Active genes are sensitive to deoxyribonuclease I during metaphase.
The active exogenous murine leukemia virus sequences of mouse cells growing in culture are preferentially digested by deoxyribonuclease I in metaphase chromosomes. As determined by nuclear nick translation, all of the gene sequences of these cells active during interphase are in a deoxyribonuclease I-sensitive conformation during metaphase. This method of nick translation can therefore be used to label chromosomes in situ in order to visualize the active regions of the genome.
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002877:Chromosomes, Human; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics*; D003850:Deoxyribonuclease I; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004720:Endonucleases / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D005814:Genes, Viral; D006801:Humans; D007399:Interphase; D009052:Leukemia Virus, Murine / Q000235:genetics; D008677:Metaphase; D051379:Mice; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D012367:RNA, Viral; D004247:DNA; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases; D004720:Endonucleases; D003850:Deoxyribonuclease I