Satellite DNA (II) from sea urchin (Lytechinus variegatus) sperm

Summary When DNA isolated from freshly collected sperm of sea urchin (Lytechinus variegatus) is centrifuged to equilibrium in CsCl, 2 heavy satellite bands appear beside the main band DNA. Satellite DNA (II) appears in between the main band DNA (=1.695 g/cm³) and the rDNA satellite (=1.722 g/cm³). Satellite DNA (II) has a buoyant density 1.710 g/cm³, corresponding to 50% GC content. It is speculated that the satellite DNA (II), which appears to be of high mol.wt, might contain the sequences complementary to histone mRNA.Acknowledgment. This work was carried out in the laboratory of Dr D. W. Stafford, Department of Zoology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N.C., USA. I thank him for his help and cooperation.