Heterochromatin in the chromosomes of the gorilla: characterization with distamycin A/DAPI, D287/170, chromomycin A3, quinacrine, and 5-azacytidine.
The chromosomes of the gorilla were extensively studied with various staining techniques labeling the different classes of heterochromatin. The chromosomal distribution of distamycin A/DAPI-, D287/170-, quinacrine-, and chromomycin A3-positive heterochromatic regions, as well as the nucleolus organizer regions, is described and compared with the karyotypes of other hominoid species. Lymphocyte cultures were treated with low doses of 5-azacytidine during the last hours of culture. This cytidine analog induces distinct undercondensation in 37 heterochromatic regions in the 24 gorilla chromosomes. The 5-azacytidine-induced undercondensations are localized not only in most of the distamycin A/DAPI-bright heterochromatic regions but also in many telomeric C-bands of the chromosomes. Furthermore, 5-azacytidine preserves the somatic pairing between heterochromatic regions from the interphase nuclei into the metaphase stage. The homeologies and differences in the chromosomal localization of the various classes of heterochromatin, 5-azacytidine-sensitive regions, 5-methylcytosine-rich DNA sequences, and satellite DNAs in the gorilla, chimpanzee, orangutan, and man are discussed.
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M
Schmid
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T
Haaf
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G
Ott
J M
JM
Scheres
J A
JA
Wensing
D044503:5-Methylcytosine; D000818:Animals; D001374:Azacitidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D014128:Chromomycin A3; D002871:Chromosome Banding / Q000379:methods*; D003596:Cytosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D004214:Distamycins; D005260:Female; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006071:Gorilla gorilla / Q000235:genetics*; D006570:Heterochromatin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007211:Indoles; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D009697:Nucleolus Organizer Region / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011323:Primates / Q000235:genetics; D011796:Quinacrine; D013045:Species Specificity; D013194:Staining and Labeling
D004214:Distamycins; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006570:Heterochromatin; D007211:Indoles; C007293:DAPI; D044503:5-Methylcytosine; C030000:stallimycin; C037844:D 287-170; D003596:Cytosine; D004247:DNA; D014128:Chromomycin A3; D011796:Quinacrine; D001374:Azacitidine