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PMID: 1192902 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Electron microscopy of whole mount metaphase chromosomes.

Chromosoma ·Vol. 52 ·No. 4 ·1975-11-11 ·Pages 329-38

Rattner JB, Branch A, Hamkalo BA

Abstract

Whole mount metaphase chromosomes, from cultured L cells, have been centrifuged onto grids and examined by electron microscopy. Compact and dispersed chromosome forms provide extensive ultrastructural information. Condensed chromosome arms appear as packed fibers with centromeric heterochromatin identifiable because it stains more intensely than the rest of the chromosome. Kinetochores are readily visible in these preparations. Under appropriate isolation conditions, it is possible to obtain mitotic spindles in which bundles of microtubules remain attached to kinetochores, suggesting that the kinetochores retain basic structural integrity throughout the isolation procedure. Dispersal of metaphase chromosomes by treatment with formalin and distilled water shows that these chromosomes are composed of a basic fiber that is normally highly condensed. This fiber is made up of regularly repeating 70-90 A diameter nucleoprotein granules separated from neighboring granules by a 20-40 A diameter fiber whose continuity is maintained by DNA. This structural arrangement is totally analagous to that reported for interphase chromatin from a variety of sources.

MeSH Terms
Animals Chromatin/ultrastructure Chromosomes/ultrastructure Heterochromatin/ultrastructure L Cells/ultrastructure Mice Mitosis Organoids/ultrastructure Protein Conformation
Chemicals
Chromatin Heterochromatin
Authors & Affiliations
3 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Rattner J B
Branch A
Hamkalo B A
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32 references, click to expand
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Article Info
Journal
Chromosoma
Abbr.
Chromosoma
ISSN
0009-5915
DOI
10.1007/BF00364017
Published
1975-11-11
Pages
329-38
Language
English
Region
Austria
NLM ID
2985138R
Subset
IM
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1007/BF00364017 View journal details
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