Abstract
Constitutive heterochromatin of chromosomes can be visualized utilizing a new differential staining technique which was originally developed by Gall and Pardue (1971). The method facilitates the more certain identification of specific chromosomes within and between cell populations of different origins. Marker chromosomes can be identified in established cell lines over many months of serial passage. Chromosomes of similar morphology within karyotypes of man and mouse can be distinguished in a number of instances. For example, the Y chromosomes of both mouse and man can now be easily detected. The hetero-chromatic staining method also permits discrimination between mouse and human chromosomes in somatic cell hybrids, thus facilitating the assignment of gene markers to chromosomes in somatic cell genetics systems. Instances of translocation of centric heterochromatin to other parts of chromosomes in established tissue culture cell lines are described. An instance of the inheritance of a polymorphic variation in autosomal heterochromatin in man is reported. It is postulated that polymorphisms in the centric heterochromatin may account largely for small heritable chromosome length variations previously described in human populations and termed minor chromosome variants.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arrighi, F. E., Hsu, T. C.: Localization of heterochromatin in human chromosomes. Cytogenetics 10, 81–86 (1971).
—, Saunders, P., Saunders, G.F.: Chromosomal localization of human DNA fractions by in situ hybridization of complementary tritiated RNA. J. Cell Biol. 47, 9a-10a (1970).
Boone, C. M., Ruddle, F. H., Chen, T. R.: Linkage of LDH-A to a C-group chromosome utilizing man/mouse somatic cell hybrids. (In preparation.)
Borgaonkar, D. S., Hollander, D. H.: Quinacrine fluorescence of the human Y chromosome. Abst., Amer. Soc. Human Genetics 22a (1970).
Britten, R. J., Kohne, D.: Repeated nucleotide sequences. Carnegie Inst. Wash., Year Book 65, 73–88 (1967).
Caspersson, T., Zech, L., Johansson, C., Modest, E. J.: Identification of human chromosomes by DNA-binding fluorescent agents. Chromosoma (Berl.) 30, 215–227 (1970).
Chen, T. R.: Fish chromosome preparation: Air-dried displays of cultured ovarian cells in two killifishes (Fundulus). J. Fish. Res. Bd. Canada 27, 158–161 (1970).
- Kleinman, I. A., Ruddle, F. H.: Identification of specific chromosome in somatic cell hybrid cells by means of DNA and RNA in situ annealing. (In preparation.)
- Ruddle, F. H.: Chromosome and growth variations in WI-38 during its finite life expectancy. (In preparation.)
- - Characteristics of patterns of constitutive heterochromatin in human chromosomes. (In preparation.)
Chu, E. H. Y., Bender, M. A.: Chromosome cytology and evolution in primates. Science 133, 1399 (1961).
Comings, D., Okada, P. A.: Whole mount electromicroscope of the centromeric region of metacentric and telocentric mammalian chromosomes. Cytogenetics 9, 436–449 (1971)
Corneo, G., Ginelli, E., Polli, E.: Repeated sequences in human DNA. J. molec. Biol. 48, 319–327 (1970).
Crouse, H. V.: The controlling element in sex chromosome behaviour in Sciara. Genetics 45, 1429–1443 (1960).
Eckhardt, R. A., Gall, J. G.: Satellite DNA associated with heterochromatin in Rhynchosciara. Chromosoma (Berl.) 32, 407–427 (1971).
Flamm, W. G., Walker, P. M. B., McCallum, M.: Some properties of the single strands isolated from the DNA of the nuclear satellite of the mouse (Mus musculus). J. molec. Biol. 40, 423–443 (1969).
Gall, J. G., Pardue, M. L.: Nucleic acid hybridization in cytological preparations. Methods in enzymology (Moldave and Grossman, eds.), 12b. New York: Academic Press 1971.
Hennig, W., Hennig, L., Stein, H.: Repeated sequences in the DNA of Drosophila and their localization in giant chromosomes. Chromosoma (Berl.) 32, 31–63 (1970).
Jokelainen, P. T.: The ultrastructure and spatial organization of the metaphase kinetochore in mitotic rat cells. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 19, 19–44 (1967).
Jones, K. W.: Chromosomal and nuclear location of mouse satellite DNA in individual cells. Nature (Lond.) 255, 912–915 (1970).
—, Robertson, F. W.: Localization of reiterated nucleotide sequences in Drosophila and mouse by in situ hybridization of complementary RNA. Chromosoma (Berl.) 31, 331–345 (1970).
Klebe, R. J., Chen, T. R., Ruddle, F. H.: Controlled production of proliferating somatic cell hybrids. J. Cell Biol. 45, 74–82 (1970a).
—: Mapping of a human genetic regulator element by somatic cell genetic analysis. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 66, 1220–1227 (1970b).
Lubs, H. A., Ruddle, F. H.: Chromosome polymorphism in American negro and white populations. Nature (Lond.) (in press).
Macgregor, H. C., Kezer, J.: The chromosomal localisation of a heavy satellite DNA in the testis of Plethodon c. cinereus. Chromosoma (Berl.) 33, 167–182 (1971).
Moorhead, P. S., Nowell, P. C., Mellman, W. J., Battips, D. M., Hungerford, D. A.: Chromosome preparations of leukocytes cultured from human peripheral blood. Exp. Cell Res. 20, 613–616 (1960).
Pardue, M. L.: Molecular hybridization of nucleic acids in cytological preparations. Thesis, Yale University, 1970.
—, Gall, J. G.: Chromosomal localization of mouse satellite DNA. Science 168, 1356–1358 (1970).
Rae, P. M. M.: The chromosomal distribution of rapidly reannealing DNA in Drosophila melanogaster. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 67, 1018–1025 (1970).
Ruddle, F. H.: Chromosome variation in cell populations derived from pig kidney. Cancer Res. 21, 885–894 (1961).
—: Utilization of somatic cell for genetic analysis. Possibilities and problems. Symp. Int. Soc. Cell Biol. 9, 233–264 (1970).
—, Chapman, V. M., Chen, T. R., Klebe, R. J.: Linkage between human lactate dehydrogenase A and B and peptidase B. Nature (Lond.) 227, 251–257 (1970).
- Chen, T. R.: Utilization of centric heterochromatin for chromosome identification in somatic cell hybrids. (In preparation.)
Southern, E. M.: Base sequence and evolution of guinea-pig α-satellite DNA. Nature (Lond.) 227, 794–798 (1970).
Walker, P. M. B.: How different are the DNAs from related animals ? Nature (Lond.) 219, 228–232 (1968).
Waring, M., Britten, R. J.: Nucleotide sequence repetition: A rapidly reassociating fraction of mouse DNA. Science 154, 791–794 (1966).
Yasmineh, W. G., Yunis, J. J.: Localization of mouse satellite DNA in constitutive heterochromatin. Exp. Cell Res. 59, 69–75 (1970).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chen, T.R., Ruddle, F.H. Karyotype analysis utilizing differentially stained constitutive heterochromatin of human and murine chromosomes. Chromosoma 34, 51–72 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00285516
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00285516