title: Analysis of centromere size in human chromosomes 1, 9, 15, and 16 by electron microscopy.
abstract: Human chromosomes were treated with 5-azacytidine and analyzed by whole-mount electron microscopy. This base analogue produces undercondensation of heterochromatin and separation of the centromere from the bulk of pericentromeric heterochromatin in chromosomes 1, 9, 15, and 16, which allows clear delimitation of the centromere regions. A quantitative analysis of centromeres showed that chromosomes 1, 9, and 16 have centromeres of different size. The centromere of chromosome 15 is similar in size to that of chromosome 9 and different from those of chromosomes 1 and 16. No interindividual variation for centromere size was found. A positive correlation between centromere and chromosome size was found for the chromosomes analyzed.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología Fundamental, Universidad de Santiago, Lugo, Spain.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Goyanes
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001374:Azacitidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002503:Centromere / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002877:Chromosomes, Human / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002878:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002884:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 15 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002885:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 16 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002899:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 9 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D006570:Heterochromatin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron
chemical_list: D006570:Heterochromatin; D001374:Azacitidine