Relationship between the DNA content of human chromosomes and their involvement in radiation-induced structural aberrations, analysed by painting.
OBJECTIVE
To study the relationship between the DNA content of human chromosomes and their involvement in radiation-induced structural chromosome aberrations.


METHODS
Human lymphocytes were cultured after exposure to 5 Gy of X-rays. FISH-painting was performed for all human chromosomes.


RESULTS
The results indicate that with the exception of chromosome 20, there was a good fit between the DNA content and the number of exchange-type aberrations and the number of breaks. However, there was a significant tendency for short chromosomes to be more affected than expected and for long chromosomes to be less affected than expected. A better fit was observed when, instead of DNA content, the surface area of the chromosome territories obtained from a spherical model was taken into consideration.


CONCLUSIONS
The tendency for short chromosomes to be more involved and long chromosomes to be less involved in exchange-type aberrations could be related not only to their DNA content but also to their interphase territory surface area.
Cigarrán
S
S
Dpt. Biologia Animal, Biologia Vegetal i Ecologia, Facultat de Ciències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain.
Barrios
L
L
Barquinero
J F
JF
Caballín
M R
MR
Ribas
M
M
Egozcue
J
J
D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000235:genetics*; D002871:Chromosome Banding; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008297:Male; D014178:Translocation, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D014965:X-Rays
D004247:DNA