Home LiteratureArticle Details
PMID: 6987157 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. Review

Arrangement of chromatin in the nucleus.

Human genetics ·Vol. 53 ·No. 2 ·1980-02-00 ·Pages 131-43

Comings DE

Abstract

The factors responsible for producing some degree of order to the arrangement of chromatin in the nucleus are reviewed. They are following: 1. Chromosomes are attached to the nuclear membrane, nucleolus and intranuclear matrix. As a result they have a relatively fixed position in the nucleus. 2. In some species somatic pairing results in alignment of homologs. This is rare in mammals. 3. The association of ribosomal DNA and 5S DNA with the nucleolous results in the close approximation of the chromosomes carrying these DNA sequences. In man and other animals the most obvious consequence is satellite association. 4. Heterochromatin is condensed onto the inner nuclear membrane and periphery of the nucleolous while genetically active chromatin occupies the more central portion of the nucleus. The results is a peripheral location of late replicating DNA and a central location of early relicating DNA. 5. The DNA replication points tend to be associated with the nuclear matrix. Autoradiography of briefly labelled cells shows a high frequency of grains associated with nuclear matrix material. 6. Heterochromatin association results in chromocenters and ectopic pairing. 7. In addition to all these is the Rabl orientation or alignment of centromeres with centromeres and telomeres with telomeres. This polarization of the chromosomes results from the traction on the centromeres by the spindle fibers. There is no firm evidence for any higher degrees of order that might bring specific functioning genes into close proximity.

MeSH Terms
Animals Cell Division Cell Nucleus/ultrastructure Chromatin/ultrastructure Chromosomes/ultrastructure DNA Replication Heterochromatin/ultrastructure Humans Hybrid Cells Nuclear Envelope/ultrastructure Ribosomes/ultrastructure Translocation, Genetic
Chemicals
Chromatin Heterochromatin
Authors & Affiliations
1 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Comings D E
References (109)
109 references, click to expand
  1. Chromatid aberrations induced by gamma irradiation. I. The structure and frequency of chromatid interchanges in diploid and tetraploid cells of Vicia faba.
    Genetics. 1961 Mar;46:257-75 PMID: 13697576
  2. Supercoiled DNA folded by non-histone proteins in cultured mammalian cells.
    Nature. 1975 Dec 4;258(5534):445-7 PMID: 1196378
  3. The influence of heterochromatin, inversion-heterozygosity and somatic pairing on x-ray induced mitotic recombination in Drosophila melanogaster.
    Mol Gen Genet. 1969;105(3):203-18 PMID: 5369216
  4. Nonrandomness of translocations in man: preferential entry of chromosomes into 13-15-21 translocations.
    Science. 1968 Jul 26;161(3839):371-2 PMID: 4232527
  5. COLCHICINE-INDUCED SOMATIC CHROMOSOME REDUCTION IN SORGHUM. I. INDUCTION OF DIPLOID PLANTS FROM TETRAPLOID SEEDLINGS.
    J Hered. 1963 May-Jun;54:96-100 PMID: 14054392
  6. Evidence aganist the peripheral location of the Y chromosome in human metaphase cells.
    Cytogenet Cell Genet. 1973;12(1):49-52 PMID: 4707247
  7. Arrangement of centromeres in mouse cells.
    Chromosoma. 1971;34(1):73-87 PMID: 4105528
  8. The pairing of somatic chromosomes: a survey.
    Tex Rep Biol Med. 1955;13(2):213-21 PMID: 14386408
  9. Somatic reduction in cycads.
    Science. 1968 Feb 9;159(3815):648-50 PMID: 17735993
  10. Random association of human acrocentric chromosomes.
    Am J Hum Genet. 1969 Sep;21(5):513-5 PMID: 5822292
  11. In situ analysis of cultured Potorous cells. I. DNA synthesis and mitotic dynamics in bi- and multinucleate cells.
    Hereditas. 1971;67(2):221-50 PMID: 5173400
  12. The rationale for an ordered arrangement of chromatin in the interphase nucleus.
    Am J Hum Genet. 1968 Sep;20(5):440-60 PMID: 5701616
  13. Relative position of trypsin banded homologous chromosomes in human (female) metaphase figures.
    Humangenetik. 1975 Aug 25;28(4):303-11 PMID: 51818
  14. Organization of mammalian chromosomal DNA: supercoiled and folded circular DNA subunits from interphase cell nuclei.
    Acta Biol Med Ger. 1978;37(3):421-32 PMID: 735613
  15. Arrangement and association of somatic chromosomes induced by chloramphenicol in barley.
    Chromosoma. 1973;43(4):399-407 PMID: 4776472
  16. [Distribution of chromosomes to the daughter cell nuclei of multipolar mitoses in euploid tissue cultures of Microtus agrestis].
    Chromosoma. 1969;26(3):337-54 PMID: 5800669
  17. Non-random chromosome distribution in radial metaphases from the chinese hamster. I. Uncultured cells.
    Chromosoma. 1975;50(3):313-26 PMID: 1097212
  18. Rat liver nuclear skeleton and small molecular weight RNA species.
    J Cell Biol. 1978 Mar;76(3):692-704 PMID: 564914
  19. Unscheduled DNA synthesis after partial UV irradiation of the cell nucleus. Distribution in interphase and metaphase.
    Exp Cell Res. 1979 Nov;124(1):111-9 PMID: 499376
  20. Supercoils in human DNA.
    J Cell Sci. 1975 Nov;19(2):261-79 PMID: 1202042
  21. Somatic cell mating and segregation in chimeric frogs.
    Science. 1970 May 15;168(3933):850-2 PMID: 17768921
  22. Identification of a nuclear protein matrix.
    Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1974 Oct 23;60(4):1410-7 PMID: 4214419
  23. Nonrandom distribution of exchange points in patients with structural rearrangements.
    Am J Hum Genet. 1976 Jan;28(1):31-41 PMID: 1247018
  24. C-banding and non-homologous associations in Gyrllus argentinus.
    Chromosoma. 1974;48(4):367-90 PMID: 4448110
  25. Distribution of DNA replicator sites in mammalian nuclei. II. Effects of prolonged inhibition of DNA synthesis.
    Exp Cell Res. 1972 Jan;70(1):203-13 PMID: 4257609
  26. The nuclear protein matrix: isolation, structure, and functions.
    Adv Enzyme Regul. 1976;14:63-100 PMID: 970274
  27. DISTANCES WHICH INVOLVE SATELLITED CHROMOSOMES IN METAPHASE PREPARATIONS.
    Ann Hum Genet. 1964 Mar;27:257-9 PMID: 14128211
  28. INDUCED PREMEIOTIC EXCHANGE OF LINKED MARKERS IN THE ANGIOSPERM ARABIDOPSIS.
    Genetics. 1965 Apr;51:519-26 PMID: 14330691
  29. Kinetics of two-break chromosome exchanges and the spatial arrangement of chromosome strands in interphase nucleus.
    Nature. 1966 Feb 19;209(5025):796-7 PMID: 5922151
  30. Visualization of the interphase chromosomes of Ornithogalum virens and Muntiacus muntjak.
    Cytobiologie. 1979 Feb;18(3):398-412 PMID: 428620
  31. Mechanisms of chromosome banding and implications for chromosome structure.
    Annu Rev Genet. 1978;12:25-46 PMID: 85431
  32. Isolation of nuclear pore complexes in association with a lamina.
    Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1975 Mar;72(3):1007-11 PMID: 1055359
  33. The internal order of the interphase nucleus.
    Humangenetik. 1974;25(4):265-97 PMID: 4464236
  34. COLCHICINE-INDUCED SOMATIC CHROMOSOME REDUCTION IN SORGHUM. IV. AN INDUCED HAPLOID MUTANT.
    J Hered. 1964 Jan-Feb;55:3-5 PMID: 14134075
  35. POSSIBLE SOMATIC CELL MATING IN TWIN CATTLE WITH ERYTHROCYTE MOSAICISM.
    Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1964 Jun;51:1036-44 PMID: 14215624
  36. [Distribution of human chromosomes in the metaphase stage of cell division. Distribution of chromosomes 1 and 3 (group A), 4 and 5 (group B) and the acrocentrics (group G + the Y chromosome)].
    Humangenetik. 1968;6(2):110-7 PMID: 5704429
  37. Location of the genes for 5S ribosomal RNA in Xenopus laevis.
    Chromosoma. 1973;42(2):191-203 PMID: 4726606
  38. Studies on the location of the Y fluorescent body in human interphase nuclei.
    Humangenetik. 1974;22(4):275-86 PMID: 4426623
  39. Quinacrine, a chromosome stain specific for deoxyadenylate-deoxythymidylaterich regions in DNA.
    Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1972 Mar;69(3):629-32 PMID: 4111050
  40. Chromosome multiplication and reduction in somatic tissues; their possible relation to differentiation, reversion and sex.
    Nature. 1948 Jan 17;161(4081):80-3 PMID: 18898333
  41. Non-random participation of chromosomes 13, 14 and 15 in acrocentric associations.
    Humangenetik. 1971;13(4):309-14 PMID: 5135850
  42. Initiation of deoxyribonucleic acid replication at the nuclear membrane in human cells.
    J Mol Biol. 1968 Apr 14;33(1):225-9 PMID: 5646645
  43. THE ASSOCIATION OF SATELLITED CHROMOSOMES WITH SPECIFIC CHROMOSOMAL REGIONS IN CULTURED HUMAN SOMATIC CELLS.
    Ann Hum Genet. 1963 Nov;27:143-56 PMID: 14081485
  44. Somatic association of chromosomes in asynaptic genotypes of Avena sativa L.
    Chromosoma. 1973 May 14;42(1):87-94 PMID: 4712858
  45. Distribution of DNA replicator sites in mammalian nuclei after different methods of cell synchronization.
    Exp Cell Res. 1970 Dec;63(2):365-72 PMID: 4249935
  46. Isolation, characterization, and structure of the folded interphase genome of Drosophila melanogaster.
    Cell. 1976 Nov;9(3):393-407 PMID: 825231
  47. Identifying Y chromosome in interphase nuclei of the human brain.
    Experientia. 1973 Nov 15;29(11):1428-9 PMID: 4761264
  48. Relative positions of homologous chromosomes or groups in male and female metaphase figures.
    Humangenetik. 1969;7(4):265-74 PMID: 5365568
  49. Interphase chromosome arrangement in Anopheles atroparvus.
    Chromosoma. 1975 Sep 15;52(1):27-35 PMID: 1175456
  50. Mechanism of chromosome pairing during meiosis.
    Nature. 1970 Aug 1;227(5257):451-6 PMID: 5464099
  51. Human male meiosis: chromosome behaviour at pre-meiotic and meiotic stages of spermatogenesis.
    Can J Genet Cytol. 1971 Sep;13(3):536-49 PMID: 4945731
  52. DNA-binding properties of nuclear matrix proteins.
    J Cell Sci. 1978 Dec;34:233-46 PMID: 748341
  53. The position of chromosomes at metaphase in human fibroblasts and their DNA synthesis behaviour.
    Chromosoma. 1969;27(3):308-20 PMID: 5365540
  54. Implications of somatic recombination and sister chromatid exchange in Bloom's syndrome and cells treated with mitomycin C.
    Humangenetik. 1975 Jul 23;28(3):191-6 PMID: 1150278
  55. Nuclear protein matrix: association with newly synthesized DNA.
    Science. 1975 Jul 25;189(4199):291-3 PMID: 1145202
  56. Non-random distribution of certain homologous pairs of normal human chromosomes in metaphase.
    Nature. 1962 Sep 22;195:1229-30 PMID: 13908972
  57. Chromosomal distribution in interspecific invitro hybrid cells.
    Exp Cell Res. 1968 Oct;52(2):379-91 PMID: 5693242
  58. Non-random association of human acrocentric chromosomes.
    Humangenetik. 1971;13(2):157-9 PMID: 5114669
  59. Euploid segregation through multipolar mitosis in mammalian cell cultures. Identification of triploid, haploid, and segregating diploid cells in a diploid-euploid primary culture of rhesus kidney cells.
    Chromosoma. 1974 Mar 14;45(2):151-62 PMID: 4135138
  60. Somatic Association in Avena sativa L.
    Science. 1970 Feb 13;167(3920):999-1000 PMID: 17749619
  61. Interphase association of human "Y body" with nucleolus.
    Johns Hopkins Med J. 1972 Apr;130(4):254-8 PMID: 4110614
  62. In situ analysis of cultured Potorous cells. II. Labeling in relation to chromosome orientation during the development of bipolar spindles.
    Hereditas. 1971;67(2):251-8 PMID: 5173401
  63. Terminal Adhesions of Salivary Gland Chromosomes in Drosophila.
    Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1941 Nov 15;27(11):491-6 PMID: 16588490
  64. Nonrandom arrangement of human chromatin: topography of disomic markers X, Y, and 1h plus 1.
    Cytogenet Cell Genet. 1973;12(6):443-52 PMID: 4791997
  65. On the position of chromosomes in prepared mitosis figures of human fibroblasts.
    Humangenetik. 1971;13(2):166-70 PMID: 5114672
  66. Somatic association in Triticum aestivum.
    Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1966 Oct;56(4):1192-9 PMID: 5230145
  67. Chromosome Studies in Arabidopsis Thaliana.
    Genetics. 1963 Apr;48(4):483-90 PMID: 17248159
  68. Cytological Studies in Culex I. Somatic Reduction Divisions.
    Genetics. 1946 Jan;31(1):60-76 PMID: 17247185
  69. COLCHICINE-INDUCED SOMATIC CHROMOSOME REDUCTION IN SORGHUM. III. INDUCTION OF PLANTS HOMOZYGOUS FOR STRUCTURAL CHROMOSOME MARKERS IN FOUR PAIRS.
    J Hered. 1963 Nov-Dec;54:277-84 PMID: 14098317
  70. Ectopic pairing of chromosome regions containing chemically similar DNA.
    Chromosoma. 1972;39(1):53-61 PMID: 4116293
  71. Analysis of the attachment of replicating DNA to a nuclear matrix in mammalian interphase nuclei.
    Nucleic Acids Res. 1979 Jan;6(1):219-30 PMID: 424290
  72. Human Y-chromatin. 3. The nucleolus.
    Exp Cell Res. 1973 Oct;81(2):468-73 PMID: 4758910
  73. Nonrandom arrangement of metaphase chromosomes in cultured cells of the Indian deer, Muntiacus muntjak.
    Cytogenetics. 1972;11(3):153-64 PMID: 5038359
  74. An investigation of somatic pairing in the muntjak (Muntiacus muntjak).
    Cytogenetics. 1972;11(3):145-52 PMID: 5038358
  75. Distribution of human chromosomes on the metaphase plate using banding techniques.
    Hum Genet. 1977 Nov 2;39(1):39-61 PMID: 924444
  76. Identical linear order of chromosomes in both gametes of the acoel turbellarian Polychoerus carmelensis: a preliminary note.
    Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1970 Dec;67(4):1951-8 PMID: 5275388
  77. Chromatid aberrations induced by gamma irradiation. II. Non randomness in the distribution of chromatid aberrations in relation to chromosome length in Vicia faba root-tip cells.
    Genetics. 1961 Mar;46:277-89 PMID: 13697575
  78. Patterns of D chromosome involvement in human (DqDq) and (DqGq) Robertsonian rearrangements.
    Am J Hum Genet. 1971 Jul;23(4):361-7 PMID: 5097902
  79. [Cytological aspect and intranuclear localization of the heterochromatic segments of C9 chromosomes in man].
    Chromosoma. 1973;41(2):159-66 PMID: 4120887
  80. NON-RANDOM DISTRIBUTION OF CHROMOSOMES IN METAPHASE FIGURES FROM CULTURED HUMAN LEUCOCYTES. I. THE PERIPHERAL LOCATION OF THE Y CHROMOSOME.
    Cytogenetics. 1963;2:1-14 PMID: 14042835
  81. [Combination-frequencies of human leukocyte chromosomes in chemically induced translocations].
    Chromosoma. 1969;27(3):321-6 PMID: 5365541
  82. Segregation and reduction in somatic tissues; the separation of homologous chromosomes in Trillium species.
    J Hered. 1949 Jan;40(1):3-6 PMID: 18113683
  83. DNA replication sites within nuclei of mammalian cells.
    Nature. 1973 Jan 5;241(5384):32-6 PMID: 4550024
  84. Attraction between centric heterochromatin of human chromosomes.
    Cytogenet Cell Genet. 1975;15(2):66-80 PMID: 1183239
  85. Systematic analysis of 95 reciprocal translocations of autosomes.
    Hum Genet. 1978 Dec 29;45(3):259-82 PMID: 738728
  86. Chromosome pairing, crossing over, and segregation in meiosis in Drosophila melanogaster females.
    Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol. 1958;23:197-210 PMID: 13635556
  87. An Analysis of X-Ray Induced Chromosomal Aberrations in Tradescantia.
    Genetics. 1940 Jan;25(1):41-68 PMID: 17246957
  88. THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF ISOLATED CHROMOSOMES.
    J Gen Physiol. 1947 Sep 20;31(1):7-18 PMID: 19873520
  89. Letter: A new consistent chromosomal abnormality in chronic myelogenous leukaemia identified by quinacrine fluorescence and Giemsa staining.
    Nature. 1973 Jun 1;243(5405):290-3 PMID: 4126434
  90. Spontaneous occurrence of tetraploidy and near-haploidy in mammalian peripheral blood.
    Exp Cell Res. 1967 Sep;47(3):443-8 PMID: 6054022
  91. Somatic pairing, reduction and recombination: an evolutionary hypothesis of meiosis.
    Nature. 1969 Jun 28;222(5200):1275-6 PMID: 5789667
  92. Random arrangement of mitotic chromosomes in radial metaphases of the Indian muntjac.
    Cytogenet Cell Genet. 1977;19(6):335-43 PMID: 611003
  93. [Chromosome structure in the miotic prophase of some components].
    Chromosoma. 1957;8(5):447-57 PMID: 13437396
  94. Parasexual cycle in cultivated human somatic cells.
    Science. 1969 Nov 7;166(3906):761-3 PMID: 5823317
  95. Comparative effects of colchicine and sodium nucleate on somatic chromosomes of Allium and Tradescantia.
    J Hered. 1950 Jun;41(6):159-63 PMID: 14778997
  96. Nuclear proteins. III. The fibrillar nature of the nuclear matrix.
    Exp Cell Res. 1976 Dec;103(2):341-60 PMID: 1033834
  97. [Observations on the morphological agreement of homologous chromosomes of somatic cells].
    Exp Cell Res. 1963 May;30:577-82 PMID: 13950722
  98. DNA replication and the nuclear membrane.
    J Mol Biol. 1973 Apr 25;75(4):609-18 PMID: 4738727
  99. THE POSITIONS OF THE SEX CHROMOSOMES IN THE HUMAN CELL IN MITOSIS.
    Ann Hum Genet. 1964 Nov;28:123-8 PMID: 14227999
  100. Nucleolus-organisers in the causation of chromosomal anomalies in man.
    Lancet. 1961 Jul 15;2(7194):123-6 PMID: 13730523
  101. Three-dimensional reconstruction of the chromatin bodies in the nuclei of mature erythrocytes from the newt Triturus cristatus: the number of nuclear envelope-attachment sites.
    J Cell Sci. 1979 Feb;35:59-66 PMID: 422683
  102. Para-nucleolar position of the human Y chromosome in interphase nuclei.
    Nature. 1971 Aug 20;232(5312):556-7 PMID: 4937496
  103. Acrocentric chromosome associations in man.
    Am J Hum Genet. 1976 Nov;28(6):567-76 PMID: 795295
  104. Studies of multipolar mitoses in euploid tissue cultures. I. Somatic reduction to exactly haploid and triploid chromosome sets.
    Chromosoma. 1973 May 14;42(1):71-86 PMID: 4123256
  105. Pattern of DNA segregation in multipolar anatelophases of different ploidy in euploid and aneuploid mammalian cells cultivated in vitro.
    Genetica. 1972;43(1):130-47 PMID: 4624504
  106. Visualization of interphase chromosomes.
    J Cell Sci. 1977 Aug;26:281-99 PMID: 562895
  107. NON-RANDOM DISTRIBUTION OF CHROMOSOMES IN METAPHASE FIGURES FROM CULTURED HUMAN LEUCOCYTES. II. THE PERIPHERAL LOCATION OF CHROMOSOMES 13, 17-18 AND 21.
    Cytogenetics. 1963;2:152-67 PMID: 14099758
  108. The capacity of the fourth chromosome of Drosophila melanogaster to establish end-to-end contacts with the other chromosomes in salivary-gland cells.
    Chromosoma. 1969;26(4):395-409 PMID: 5820702
  109. Two-dimensinal gel electrophoresis of rat liver nuclear washes, nuclear matrix, and hnRNA proteins.
    J Cell Biol. 1980 Jul;86(1):135-55 PMID: 7419573
Article Info
Journal
Human genetics
Abbr.
Hum Genet
ISSN
0340-6717
DOI
10.1007/BF00273484
Published
1980-02-00
Pages
131-43
Language
English
Region
Germany
NLM ID
7613873
Subset
IM
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1007/BF00273484 View journal details
Analysis Services
Analysis Services

Contact

No. 2 Wenbo Road, Zhangqiu District, Jinan, Shandong

Qilu Normal University · Genelibs Bioinformatics Lab

750 Shunhua Rd, Jinan

2F, Bldg F, University Science Park

Tel: 0531-88819269

WeChat Official Account

Follow our WeChat subscription account for real-time updates and the latest in medical and biological research.


Business Email

E-mail: [email protected]

Copyright © 2026.Genelibs Jinan Honghui Biotechnology Co., Ltd. 鲁ICP备20007159号-2