Summary
Condensation of human chromosomes in phase G2 and early mitosis is inhibited by the fluorochrome 33258-Hoechst. This inhibitory effect is most apparent in primary diploid fibroblasts and lymphoblasts and least pronounced in peripheral blood lymphocytes. Condensation of the human Y chromosome, which contains a large heterochromatic region rich in A-T base pairs, is drastically inhibited by 33258-Hoechst treatment of fibroblasts and lymphoblasts. The difference in sensitivity of human chromosomes in different cell types to 33258-Hoechst probably reflects differences in the cell-membrane permeabilities to 33258-Hoechst.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Hales, C.: A procedure for the fusion of cells in suspension by means of polyethylene glycol. Som. Cell Genet. 3, 227–230 (1977)
Hilwig, I., Gropp, A.: Decondensation of constitutive heterochromatin in L cell chromosomes by a benzimidazole compound (“33258-Hoechst”). Exp. Cell Res. 81, 474–477 (1973)
Kim, M. A., Grzeschik, K. H.: A method for discriminating murine and human chromosomes in somatic cell hybrids. Exp. Cell Res. 88, 406–410 (1974)
Klebe, R. J., Chen, T. R., Ruddle, F. H.: Controlled production of proliferating somatic cell hybrids. J. Cell Biol. 45, 74–82 (1970)
Kucherlapati, R. S., Hilwig, I., Gropp, A., Ruddle, F. H.: Mammalian chromosome identification in interspecific hybrid cells using “Hoechst 33258”. Humangenetik 27, 9–14 (1975)
Littlefield, J. W.: Selection of hybrids from matings of fibroblasts in vitro and their presumed recombinants. Science 145, 709 (1964)
Matsukuma, S., Utakoji, T.: Asymmetric decondensation of the L cell heterochromatin by Hoechst 33258. Exp. Cell Res. 113, 453–455 (1978)
Marcus, M., Nielsén, K., Goitein, R., Gropp, A.: Pattern of condensation of mouse and Chinese hamster chromosomes in G2 and mitosis of 33258-Hoechst treated cells. Exp. Cell Res. (in press, 1979a)
Marcus, M., Nattenberg, A., Goitein, R., Nielsén, K., Gropp, A.: Inhibition of condensation of human Y chromosome by the fluorochrome Hoechst 33258 in a mouse-human cell hybrid. Hum. Genet. 46, 193–198 (1979)
Miller, D. A., Miller, O. J., Dev, V. G., Hashmi, S., Tantravahi, R., Medrano, L., Green, H.: Human chromosome 19 carries a poliovirus receptor gene. Cell 1, 167–173 (1974)
Pimpinelli, S., Gatti, M., De Marco, A.: Evidence for heterogeneity in the heterochromatin of Drosophila melanogaster. Nature 256, 335–337 (1975)
Pimpinelli, S., Prantera, G., Rocchi, A., Gatti, M.: Effects of Hoechst 33258 on human leukocytes in vitro. Cytogenet. Cell Genet. 17, 114–121 (1976)
Rocchi, A., Prantera, G., Pimpinelli, S., Di Castro, M.: Effect of Hoechst 33258 on Chinese hamster chromosomes. Chromosoma 56, 41–46 (1976)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Marcus, M., Goitein, R. & Gropp, A. Condensation of all human chromosomes in phase G2 and early mitosis can be drastically inhibited by 33258-Hoechst treatment. Hum Genet 51, 99–105 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00278298
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00278298