title: Cell cycle dependent chromosomal movement in pre-mitotic human T-lymphocyte nuclei.
abstract: Fluorescent in situ hybridization with chromosome specific probes was used in conjunction with laser scanning confocal microscopy to assess the three-dimensional distribution of chromosomes in human T-lymphocyte nuclei. Cells in the G1-phase of the cell cycle exhibit a distinctly non-random chromosome organization:centromeric regions of the ten chromosomes examined are localized on the nuclear periphery, often making contact with the nuclear membrane, while telomeric domains are consistently localized within the interior 50% of the nuclear volume. Chromosome homolog pairing is not observed. Transition from the G1 to G2 cell cycle phase is accompanied by extensive chromosome movement, with centromeres assuming a more interior location. Chromosome condensation and chromatin depleted areas are observed in a small subset of G2 nuclei approaching mitosis. These results demonstrate that dynamic chromosome rearrangements occur in non-mitotic nuclei during the cell cycle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biophysics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferguson
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Ward
mesh_terms: D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000502:physiology*; D002503:Centromere; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000502:physiology*; D002898:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8; D015342:DNA Probes; D006801:Humans; D008938:Mitosis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016615:Telomere
chemical_list: D015342:DNA Probes