Restriction Enzyme Accessibility (REA) assays are used to evaluate for chromatin remodeling activity in vitro. These assays work on the premise that nucleosomes block restriction enzymes from cutting DNA. Hence, as chromatin remodeling proceeds in a REA reaction, cut sites for restriction enzymes become more accessible, leading to increased digestion of DNA. This method can be used to measure the activity of purified chromatin remodeling factors and also to evaluate the effects of other chromatin factors on chromatin remodeling.

Reagents:

Salt-dialyzed chromatin

Reconstitute nucleosomes onto plasmid DNA by the salt-dialysis method.
It is highly preferred to use "under-assembled" chromatin, in which the mass ratio of core histones to DNA is approximately 0.8, rather than the typical 1.0.

Purified chromatin remodeling factors: The concentration to use will depend on the specific proteins and the density of the salt-dialyzed chromatin, so you will need to test a range of concentrations when testing a chromatin remodeling factor for the first time. Chromatin remodeling activity can be observed with 15-30 nM of the chromatin remodeling factors ACF, CHD1 and BRG1.
Restriction enzymes: Select a restriction enzyme that has several cut sites on the plasmid DNA used to reconstitute nucleosomes. A very good choice is HaeIII, which has a four nucleotide recognition sequence that is relatively common.
Ultrapure or double-distilled water
10X D-Loop Buffer: 250 mM Tris-acetate (pH 7.5), 100 mM Mg-acetate, 10 mM DTT
2 mg/mL BSA
20 mM ATP
2.5 mg/mL Proteinase K
Glycogen Stop Buffer: 20 mM EDTA, 0.2 M NaCl, 1% (w/v) SDS, 0.25 mg/mL glycogen
Phenol:chloroform:isoamyl alcohol
2.5 M ammonium acetate
Ethanol
1X loading buffer: 6.25% (v/v) glycerol, 1X TBE Buffer, with Orange G dye
10X TBE (diluted to 1X TBE for gel electrophoresis)
Agarose
Ethidium bromide stain

Equipment:

Micropipettes
Water baths set to 27°C and 37°C
Microcentrifuge
Vortex mixer
Horizontal gel electrophoresis apparatus
Electrophoresis power supply
Gel imaging system with UV transilluminator

Procedure:

Assemble Reactions for REA Assays:

Useful tips:

For the REA reactions, use low-binding microcentrifuge tubes and micropipette tips to reduce loss of proteins and DNA due to adherence to plastic surfaces.
Except for the restriction enzyme, all solutions and reagents should be brought to room temperature prior to pipetting.
Mix reaction reagents by flicking the tube.
It is common practice to perform the following control reactions: (1) salt-dialyzed chromatin in the absence of purified chromatin remodeling factors; (2) bare DNA (200 ng of the same plasmid DNA used to reconstitute nucleosomes) in the absence of purified chromatin remodeling factor.

Each REA reaction is 50 μL, containing the following:

5 μL of 10X D-Loop Buffer
2.5 μL of 2 mg/mL BSA
5 μL 20 mM ATP
200 ng of salt-dialyzed chromatin (quantification is based on the amount of DNA)
Purified chromatin remodeling factor
10 units of restriction enzyme
Ultrapure or double-distilled water to 50 μL

For each REA reaction, mix together the following (see volumes above) in a low-binding microcentrifuge tube: ultrapure water, D-Loop Buffer, BSA, and ATP. Flick the tube to mix.
Then add, in the following order: salt-dialyzed chromatin, purified chromatin remodeling factor, and restriction enzyme. Flick the tube to mix after each.
Incubate the REA reactions for 1 hour in a water bath set at 27°C.

Deproteinate Samples:

To each reaction, add 5 μL of 2.5 mg/mL Proteinase K and 100 μL of Glycogen Stop Buffer.
Invert tubes several times to mix, and incubate for 30 minutes in a water bath set at 37°C.

Extract DNA:

To each reaction, add 150 μL of phenol:chloroform:isoamyl alcohol.
Vortex vigorously for 30 seconds.
Centrifuge for 5 minutes, at >16,000 x g (maximum speed in most microcentrifuges), at room temperature.
Carefully pipette 145 μL of the upper aqueous phase and transfer to a new microcentrifuge tube. Do not use tubes made with low-binding plastic.
To each aqueous phase, add 25 μL of 2.5 M ammonium acetate and 600 μL of 100% ethanol.
Invert tubes several times to mix.
Centrifuge for 20 minutes, at >16,000 x g, at room temperature.
Carefully remove most of the supernatant using a P1000 micropipette. The DNA will be small pellet near the bottom of the tube, so be careful not to dislodge it.
Briefly centrifuge the tubes again to collect remaining liquid. Remove using a P200 and/or P10 micropipette.
Air-dry the DNA pellet for 5-10 minutes.

Analyze Digested DNA:

Resuspend the DNA pellet in 5 μL 1X loading buffer.
Subject the DNA to electrophoresis on a 1.5% agarose gel, in 1X TBE, until the Orange G dye reaches the bottom of the gel.
Visualize the DNA by staining with ethidium bromide after electrophoresis. Incubate the gel in ethidium bromide stain for 30 minutes, with gentle agitation. Wash away excess stain with water (typically, two rinses in water, 10 minutes each).
Image the gel using a UV transilluminator.