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Quinacrine fluorescence of specific chromosome regions

Late replication and high A:T content in Samoaia leonensis

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Abstract

The pattern of intense fluorescence of interphase nuclei and metaphase chromosomes after staining with quinacrine is described in Samoaia leonensis. Autoradiographic analysis of interphase nuclei after pulse labeling with tritiated thymidine indicates that there is little or no overlap in the time of replication of the intensely fluorescing and weakly fluorescing regions. Autoradiographic analysis of metaphase figures after continuous labeling with tritiated thymidine shows that the intensely fluorescing regions are late replicating and establishes their order of replication. Autoradiographic analysis of interphase nuclei after pulse labeling with tritiated deoxycytidine and of metaphase figures after continuous labeling with this tracer show that there is little, if any, incorporation of deoxycytidine into those chromosome regions which fluoresce intensely after staining with quinacrine and quinacrine mustard. These results indicate that such chromosome regions are characterized chemically by an extremely high, if not exclusive, content of adenine and thymine.

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Ellison, J.R., Barr, H.J. Quinacrine fluorescence of specific chromosome regions. Chromosoma 36, 375–390 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00336794

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00336794

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