Localized, non-random differences in chromatin accessibility between homologous metaphase chromosomes

Metaphase chromosomes from human and mouse cells in vitro are isolated by micrurgy, fixed, and placed on grids for electron microscopy. Interpretations of electron micrographs by current methods indicate the following structural features.Chromosomal spindle fibrils about 200Å thick form fascicles about 600Å thick, wrapped by dense spiraling fibrils (DSF) less than 100Å thick as they near the kinomere. Such a fascicle joins the future daughter kinomere of each metaphase chromatid with those of adjacent non-homologous chromatids to either side. Thus, four fascicles (SF, 1-4) attach to each metaphase kinomere (K). It is thought that fascicles extend from the kinomere poleward, fray out to let chromosomal fibrils act as traction fibrils against polar fibrils, then regroup to join the adjacent kinomere.

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Studies of metaphase chromosomes in the scanning transmission x-ray microscope: Image fidelity, radiation damage and specimen preparation

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100129826 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 50 (2) ◽

pp. 1038-1039

Author(s):

Shawn Williams ◽

Xiaodong Zhang ◽

Susan Lamm ◽

Jack Van’t Hof

Keyword(s):

Visible Light ◽

Radiation Damage ◽

Cross Section ◽

Imaging Techniques ◽

Dose Range ◽

Specimen Preparation ◽

X Rays ◽

Metaphase Chromosomes ◽

X Ray ◽

Scanning Transmission

The Scanning Transmission X-ray Microscope (STXM) is well suited for investigating metaphase chromosome structure. The absorption cross-section of soft x-rays having energies between the carbon and oxygen K edges (284 - 531 eV) is 6 - 9.5 times greater for organic specimens than for water, which permits one to examine unstained, wet biological specimens with resolution superior to that attainable using visible light. The attenuation length of the x-rays is suitable for imaging micron thick specimens without sectioning. This large difference in cross-section yields good specimen contrast, so that fewer soft x-rays than electrons are required to image wet biological specimens at a given resolution. But most imaging techniques delivering better resolution than visible light produce radiation damage. Soft x-rays are known to be very effective in damaging biological specimens. The STXM is constructed to minimize specimen dose, but it is important to measure the actual damage induced as a function of dose in order to determine the dose range within which radiation damage does not compromise image quality.

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DNA sequence mapping in interphase and metaphase chromosomes by fluorescence in situ hybridization

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100122885 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 50 (1) ◽

pp. 496-497

Author(s):

Barbara Trask ◽

Susan Allen ◽

Anne Bergmann ◽

Mari Christensen ◽

Anne Fertitta ◽

...

Keyword(s):

In Situ Hybridization ◽

Dna Sequence ◽

Dna Sequences ◽

Dual Band ◽

Nick Translation ◽

Metaphase Chromosomes ◽

Band Pass ◽

Texas Red ◽

Fluorescent Spot

Using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), the positions of DNA sequences can be discretely marked with a fluorescent spot. The efficiency of marking DNA sequences of the size cloned in cosmids is 90-95%, and the fluorescent spots produced after FISH are ≈0.3 μm in diameter. Sites of two sequences can be distinguished using two-color FISH. Different reporter molecules, such as biotin or digoxigenin, are incorporated into DNA sequence probes by nick translation. These reporter molecules are labeled after hybridization with different fluorochromes, e.g., FITC and Texas Red. The development of dual band pass filters (Chromatechnology) allows these fluorochromes to be photographed simultaneously without registration shift.

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Advances in imaging SIMS studies of stained and BrdU-labelled human metaphase chromosomes

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100141032 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 53 ◽

pp. 932-933

Author(s):

R. Levi-Setti ◽

J. M. Chabala ◽

R. Espinosa ◽

M. M. Le Beau

Keyword(s):

High Performance ◽

Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry ◽

Analytical Sensitivity ◽

Metaphase Chromosomes ◽

Banding Patterns ◽

Sector Mass Spectrometer ◽

Staining Methods ◽

The University ◽

Secondary Ion ◽

Better Than

We have shown previously that isotope-labelled nucleotides in human metaphase chromosomes can be detected and mapped by imaging secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), using the University of Chicago high resolution scanning ion microprobe (UC SIM). These early studies, conducted with BrdU- and 14C-thymidine-labelled chromosomes via detection of the Br and 28CN- (14C14N-> labelcarrying signals, provided some evidence for the condensation of the label into banding patterns along the chromatids (SIMS bands) reminiscent of the well known Q- and G-bands obtained by conventional staining methods for optical microscopy. The potential of this technique has been greatly enhanced by the recent upgrade of the UC SIM, now coupled to a high performance magnetic sector mass spectrometer in lieu of the previous RF quadrupole mass filter. The high transmission of the new spectrometer improves the SIMS analytical sensitivity of the microprobe better than a hundredfold, overcoming most of the previous imaging limitations resulting from low count statistics.

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