title: DNA-binding fluorochromes: correlation between C-banding of mouse metaphase chromosomes and hydrogen bonding to adenine-thymine base pairs.
abstract: Numerous non-rigid and bow-shaped cationic fluorochromes exist which bind to chromatin DNA, but only some of them are able to selectively label pericentromeric heterochromatin (C-bands) in metaphase chromosomes. Likewise, some DNA ligands allow the recognition of adenine-thymine sequences establishing hydrogen bonds with acceptor atoms in the minor groove. In the present study, we have employed cationic fluorochromes based on a variety of chemical groups to analyze comparatively their potential to demonstrate C-bands, as well as the relationship between this feature and structural parameters of fluorochromes such as curvature radius and hydrogen-bonding ability. Only fluorochromes that bind DNA by hydrogen bonds demonstrated the characteristic C-banding pattern in mouse metaphase chromosomes (together with a weak G/Q-banding), whereas the other (non-hydrogen-bonding) cationic fluorochromes produced uniform emission without any visible banding.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Autonomous University of Madrid, Cantoblanco, 28049-Madrid, Spain. juancarlos.stockert@uam.es
authors.forename: Juan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Stockert
authors.forename: Elsa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pinna-Senn
authors.forename: José L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Bella
authors.forename: José A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lisanti
mesh_terms: D000225:Adenine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D020029:Base Pairing; D002871:Chromosome Banding; D033481:Chromosomes, Mammalian / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000378:metabolism*; D006570:Heterochromatin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006860:Hydrogen Bonding; D008677:Metaphase; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D015394:Molecular Structure; D013941:Thymine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006570:Heterochromatin; D004247:DNA; D000225:Adenine; D013941:Thymine