Skip to main content
Log in

Characterization of Drosophila heterochromatin

II. C- and N-banding

  • Published:
Chromosoma Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The C- and N-banding patterns of D. melanogaster, D. simulans, D. virilis, D. texana, D. ezoana and D. hydei were studied in comparison with quinacrine and Hoechst banding patterns. In all these Drosophila species the C bands correspond to the heterochromatin as revealed by the positive heteropycnosis in the prometaphase chromosomes. The N bands have the following characteristics: 1) they are always localized on the heterochromatin and generally do not correspond to the C bands; 2) they do not correspond to the nucleolar organizing regions; 3) they are inversely correlated with fluorescence, i.e., they correspond to regions which are scarcely, if at all, fluorescent after Hoechst 33258 or quinacrine staining; 4) they are localized both on regions containing AT rich satellite DNA and on those containing GC rich satellite DNA.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Arrighi, F.E., Hsu, T.C.: Localization of heterochromatin in human chromosomes. Cytogenetics 10, 81–86 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Arrighi, F.E., Hsu, T.C., Pathak, S., Sawada, H.: The sex chromosomes of the Chinese hamster: Constitutive heterochromatin deficient in repetitive DNA sequences. Cytogenet. Cell Genet. 13, 268–274 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Arrighi, F.E., Saunders, G.F.: The relationship between repetitious DNA and constitutive heterochromatin with special reference to man. Symp. Medica-Hoechst 6, 113–133. Stuttgart-New York: Schattauer 1973

    Google Scholar 

  • Comings, D.E., Kovacs, B.W., Avelino, E., Harris, D.G.: Mechanisms of chromosome banding. V. Quinacrine banding. Chromosoma (Berl.) 50, 111–145 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, K.W.: Cytogenetic analysis of major heterochromatic elements (especially Xh and Y) in Drosophila melanogaster, and the theory of “heterochromatin”. Chromosoma (Berl.) 10, 535–588 (1959)

    Google Scholar 

  • Faust, J., Vogel, W.: Are “N-bands” selective staining of specific heterochromatin? Nature (Lond.) 249, 352–353 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Funaki, K., Matsui, S., Sasaki, M.: Location of nucleolar organizers in animal and plant chromosomes by means of an improved N-banding technique. Chromosoma (Berl.) 49, 357–370 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gatti, M., Pimpinelli, S., Santini, G.: Characterization of Drosophila heterochromatin: I. Staining and decondensation with Hoechst 33258 and Quinacrine. Chromosoma (Berl.), — (1976)

  • Gottesfeld, J.M., Bonner, J., Radda, G.K., Walker, I.O.: Biophysical studies on the mechanism of quinacrine staining of chromosomes. Biochemistry 13, 2937–2945 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Heitz, E.: Die somalische Heteropyknose bei Drosophila melanogaster und ihre genetische Bedeutung. Z. Zellforsch. 20, 237–287 (1934a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Heitz, E.: Über α- und β-Heterochromatin sowie Konstanz und Bau der Chromomeren bei Drosophila. Biol. Zbl. 54, 588–609 (1934b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hennig, W.: Molecular hybridization of DNA and RNA in situ. Int. Rev. Cytol. 36, 1–44 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hennig, W., Link, B., Leoncini, O.: The location of the nucleolus organizer regions in Drosophila hydei. Chromosoma (Berl.) 51, 57–63 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Holmquist, G.: Hoechst 33258 Fluorescent staining of Drosophila chromosomes. Chromosoma (Berl.) 49, 333–356 (1975a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Holmquist, G.: Organization and evolution of Drosophila virilis heterochromatin. Nature (Lond.) 257, 503–506 (1975b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hsu, T.C.: Heterochromatin pattern in metaphase chromosomes of Drosophila melanogaster. J. Hered. 62, 285–287 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jalal, S.M., Clark, E.W., Hsu, T.C., Pathak, S.: Cytological differentiation of constitutive heterochromatin. Chromosoma (Berl.) 48, 391–403 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaufmann, B.P.: Somatic mitoses of Drosophila melanogaster. J. Morph. 56, 125–155 (1934)

    Google Scholar 

  • Matsui, S.: Structural proteins associated with ribosomal cistrons in Xenopus laevis chromosomes. Exp. Cell Res. 88, 88–94 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Matsui, S., Sasaki, M.: Differential staining of nucleolus organisers in mammalian chromosomes. Nature (Lond.) 246, 148–150 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pardue, M.L., Gall, J.L.: Chromosomal localization of Mouse satellite DNA. Science 168, 1356–1358 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Simola, K., Selander, R.K., de la Chapelle, A., Corneo, G., Ginelli, E.: Molecular basis of chromosomes banding. I. The effect of mouse DNA fractions on two fluorescent dyes in vitro. Chromosoma (Berl.) 51, 199–205 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sinclair, J.H., Brown, D.D.: Retention of common nucleotide sequences in the ribosomal deoxyribonucleic acid of eukaryotes and some of the physical characteristics. Biochemistry 10, 2761–2769 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sumner, A.R., Evans, H.J., Buckland, R.A.: A new technique for distinguishing between human chromosomes. Nature (Lond.) New Biol. 232, 31–32 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yunis, J.J., Yasmineh, W.G.: Heterochromatin, satellite DNA, and cell function. Science 174, 1200–1209 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Pimpinelli, S., Santini, G. & Gatti, M. Characterization of Drosophila heterochromatin. Chromosoma 57, 377–386 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00332161

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00332161

Keywords

Navigation