The use of intercalating dye molecules in the study of chromatin structure

This paper reviews the field of chromatin structure studied by means of dye molecules believed to intercalate within DNA. The emphasis is on dyes whose binding properties are the best characterized (ethidium bromide (EB). actinomycin D(AMD), proflavine (PF)) but studies in which less common dye molecules are used are also considered. A comparison is made between the binding of these dyes to purified DNA and to whole or partially deproteinized chromatin in order to investigate both the availability of DNA in chromatin and the localization of chromosomal proteins or the DNA backbone.