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Human chromosomal banding by in situ hybridization of isochores

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Methods in Cell Science

Abstract

Further to the classical methods that involve different chromosome treatments followed by staining, in situ hybridization of isochores represents a novel approach to chromosomal banding. Isochores are long compositionally homogeneous DNA segments that, in the human genome, belong to five families, two GC-poor families (L1 and L2) representing 30% and 33% of the genome, respectively, and three GC-rich families (H1, H2 and H3) representing 24%, 7.5% and 4–5– of the genome, respectively. Gene concentration increases with increasing GC levels, reaching an up to 20-fold higher level in H3 compared to L1 isochores. In situ hybridization of DNA from different isochore families on metaphase chromosomes allow to distinguish different sets of Giemsa and Reverse bands. In addition, it also provides information on the chromosomal distribution of genes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Protezione e Valorizzazione Agroalimentare, University of Bologna, via F.lli Rosselli 107, 42100, Reggio Emilia, Italy

    Salvatore Saccone

  2. Dipartimento di Biologia Animale, University of Catania, via Androne 81, 95124, Catania, Italy

    Salvatore Saccone

  3. Laboratorio di Evoluzione Molecolare, Stazione Zoologica, Villa Comunale, 80121, Napoli, Italy

    Giorgio Bernardi

Authors
  1. Salvatore Saccone
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  2. Giorgio Bernardi
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Saccone, S., Bernardi, G. Human chromosomal banding by in situ hybridization of isochores. Methods Cell Sci 23, 7–15 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1013173011458

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