Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Identification and characterization of heterochromatic regions in the human metaphase and interphase nucleus

  • Original Investigations
  • Published:
Humangenetik Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Characteristic patterns of constitutive heterochromatin in human metaphase chromosomes are shown by treatment with enzymes, variation of incubation time in standard saline citrate solution and staining with fluorochrome and Giemsa. The results obtained in these studies are summarized as follows:

  1. 1.

    DNase persistant regions of metaphase chromosomes are shown in the intensely fluorescent parts of Y, 3 and group D and G.

  2. 2.

    C bands develop rapidly on chromosomes 19, 1, 6, 16 and later on chromosomes 2, 8, 9, and Y.

  3. 3.

    Fluorochrome-binding or non-fluorochrome-binding heterochromatic regions, e.g. Yq 1–2. 1pq 1-1 can be recognized in interphase with fluorochrome and Giemsa.

  4. 4.

    Centromeric regions show different staining reactions by G, C. R and G11 techniques.

Zusammenfassung

Charakteristische Eigenschaften des konstitutiven Heterochromatins menschlicher Metaphase-Chromosomen lassen sich durch Enzymeinwirkung, verschiedene Inkubationszeiten in SSC-Lösung, Fluorochromierung und Giemsafärbung darstellen. Die Ergebnisse der vorliegenden Untersuchung werden wie folgt zusammengefaßt:

  1. 1.

    DNase-resistente Abschnitte von Metaphase-Chromosomen zeigen sich in stark, fluoreszierenden Teilen von Y, 3 sowie den Gruppen D und G.

  2. 2.

    C-Banden entwickeln sich frühzeitig in den Chromosomen 19, 1, 6 und 16, erst später in Nr. 2, 8, 9 und Y.

  3. 3.

    Fluorochrombindende oder nichtfluorochrombindende Heterochromatinregionen, z. B. Yq 1–2, 1pq 1-1, können in der Interphase mit Fluorochrom und Giemsafarbstoff erkannt werden.

  4. 4.

    Zentromernahe Abschnitte zeigen unterschiedliche Färbereaktionen bei Anwendung von G-, C-, R- und G11-Techniken.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Arrighi, F. E., Hsu, T. C.: Localization of heterochromatin in human chromosomes. Cytogenetics 10, 80 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bobrow, M., Madan, K.: A comparison of chimpanzees and human chromosomes using the Giemsa 11 and other chromosome binding techniques. Cytogenet. Cell Genet. 12, 107 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bobrow, M., Madan, K., Pearson, P. L.: Staining of some specific regions of human chromosomes, particularly the secondary constriction of No. 9. Nature (Lond.) New Biol. 238, 122 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Caspersson, T., Zech, L., Johansson, G.: Differential binding of alkylating fluorochromes in human chromosomes. Exp. Cell Res. 60, 315 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Caspersson, T., Zech, L., Modest, E. J., Foley, G. E., Wagh, U., Simonsson E.: DNA-binding fluorochromes for the study of the organization of the metaphase nucleus. Exp. Cell Res. 58, 141 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Chapelle De La, A., Schröder, J., Slender, R. K.: In situ localization and characterization of different classes of chromosomal DNA: Acridine orange and quinacrine mustard fluorescence. Chromosoma (Berl.) 40, 347 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Comings, D. E., Avelino, E., Okada, T. A., Wyandt, H. E.: The mechanism of C- and G-banding chromosomes. Exp. Cell Res. 77, 467 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Corneo, G., Ginelli, E., Polli, E.: Isolation of the complementary strands of a human satellite DNA. J. molec. Biol. 33, 331 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Corneo, G., Ginelli, E., Polli, E.: Repeated sequences in human DNA. J. molec. Biol. 48 319 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Corneo, G., Ginelli, E., Polli, E.: Renaturation properties and localization in heterochromatin of human satellite DNA's Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst.) 247, 528 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Corneo, G., Zardi, L., Polli, E.: Elution of human satellite DNAs on a methylated albumin kieselgur chromatographic column: isolation of satellite DNA IV. Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst.) 269, 201 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Darlington, C. D., Lacour, L. F.: Nucleic acid starvation in chromosomes of trillium. J. Genet. 40, 185 (1940)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dutrillaux, B., Grouchy, J. de, Finaz, C.: Mise en évidence de la structure fine des chromosomes humains par digestion enzymatique (pronase en particulier). C.R. Acad. Sci. (Paris) Sér. D 273, 587 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gagne, R., Tanguay, R., Laberge, C.: Differential staining pattern of heterochromatin in man. Nature (Lond.) New Biol. 232, 29 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gall, J., Pardue, M. L.: Nucleic acid hybridization in cytological preparations. Meth. Enzymol. 21, 470 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gropp, A., Hilwig, I., Seth, F. K.: Study of constitutive heterochromatin using a direct fluorescence staining technique. Symp.Med. Hoechst 6, Modern aspects of cytogenetics: Constitutive heterochromatin in man, Pfeiffer, R. A., Ed.., Stuttgart-New York Schattauer 1972

    Google Scholar 

  • Heitz, E.: Das Heterochromatin der Moose I. Jahrb. Wiss. Bot. 69, 762 (1928)

    Google Scholar 

  • Henderson, A. S., Warburton, D., Atwood, K. C.: Location of ribosomal DNA in the human chromosome complement. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 69, 3394 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hsu, T. C., Arrighi, F. E., Saunders, G. F.: Compositional heterogeneity of human heterochromatin. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 69, 1469 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, K. W., Corneo, G.: Location of satellite and homogenous DNA sequences in human chromosomes. Nature (Lond.) New Biol. 233, 268 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, K. W., Prosser, J., Corneo, G., Ginelli, E.: The chromosomal location of human satellite DNA. Chromosoma (Berl.) 42, 445 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Klee, W. A.: Bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A, ribonuclease S and ribonuclease E. Procedures in nucleic acid research. Cantoni, G. L., Davies, D. R., Eds. New York-London: Harper & Row 1966

    Google Scholar 

  • Lejeune, J., Dutrillaux, B., Rethoré, M. D., Prieur, M.: Comparaison de la structure fine des chromatides d'Homo sapiens et de Pan troglodytes. Chromosome (Berl.) 43, 423 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lima-de-Faria, A., Jaworska, H.: Late synthesis in heterochromatin. Nature (Lond.) 217, 138 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Moorehead, P. S., Nowell, P. C. Mellmann, W. J., Battips D. M., Hungerford, D. A.: Chromosome preparations of leucocytes cultured from human peripheral blood. Exp. Cell Res. 20, 613 (1960)

    Google Scholar 

  • Paris Conference (1971): Standardization in human cytogenetics. Birth defects: Original article series, VIII: 7. New York: The National Foundation 1972

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmid, W.: DNA replication patterns of human chromosomes. Cytogenetics 2, 175 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • Seabright, M.: A rapid banding technique for human chromosomes. Lancet 1971 I, 971

  • Sumner, A. T., Evans, H. J., Buckland, R. A.: New technique for distinguishing between human chromosomes. Nature (Lond.) New Biol. 232, 52 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Vanecko, S., Laskowski, M., Sr.: Studies on variables in the activation of deoxyribonuclease I. J. biol. Chem. 239, 3843 (1964)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yunis, J. J., Yasmineh, W. G.: Model for mammalian constitutive heterochromatin. Advances in cell and molecular biology, DuPraw, E. J., Ed., Vol. 2. New York-London: Academic Press 1972

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Humangenetik der Universität, Münster, Germany

    My A. Kim

Authors
  1. My A. Kim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kim, M.A. Identification and characterization of heterochromatic regions in the human metaphase and interphase nucleus. Hum Genet 21, 331–340 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00273371

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00273371

Keywords

Search

Navigation