A relation between G-, C-, and N-band patterns as revealed by progressive oxidation of chromosomes and a note on the nature of N-bands

✍ Scribed by Ch. H. C. M. Buys; J. Osinga

• Publisher: Springer Netherlands
• Year: 1982
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 889 KB
• Volume: 58
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0016-6707
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00055996

✦ Synopsis

Near-ultraviolet irradiation of chromosome preparations mounted in a hydrogen peroxide solution resulted in an oxidative disintegration of thc structure of fixed mctaphase chromosomes with concomitant production of Various band patterns appearing after staining with Giemsa. Neither irradiation nor hydrogen peroxide alone could produce banding. After irradiation in the presencc of hydrogen pcroxide the gradually increasing effect of oxidation on the chromosomes along the gradient of light intensitics fi'om the periphery of the slide towards the radiation focus in the centre of the slide bccame visible as G-, C-, and N-banding, respectivcly. Close to the centre only contours of chromosomes were left after this treatment. Although G-banding and differential DNA-extraction often went together, extraction of DNA was not an absolute requirement to obtain a G-band patternl N-bands appeared to be thc chromosomal regions that were most resistant to destruction. Staining methods specific for DNA failed to demonstrate these bands, although with Giemsa an intense staining reaction occurred. On the analog}, of the staining behaviour of model protein preparations with Giemsa a phosphoprotein nature is suggested for the N-band material in the chromosomes.