Linear connection of condensing chromosomes in nuclei of synchronized CHO cells.
Reversibly permeabilized cells allowed the analysis of intermediates of large-scale chomatin condensation in a cell cycle-dependent manner. This paper summarizes major intermediates of chromatin condensation and visualizes connectivity between different forms of chromosomes. At the early S phase the veil-like fibrillary chromatin is supercoiled to form chromatin bodies representing the earliest visible chromosomes. Supercoiling results in a chromatin fiber, which turns to rope (thick fiber) forming loops and chromatin ribbon. The elongated shape of prechromosomes indicates that they are arranged head to tail. Bent forms (loop, c-, and v-shaped structures) of interphase chromosomes open at the end of S phase. Linear arrangement of chromosomes was observed to the end of the condensation process, suggesting that connectivity of chromosomes is maintained throughout the cell cycle.
Banfalvi
Gaspar
G
Department of Animal Anatomy and Physiology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary. bgaspar@delfin.klte.hu
D000818:Animals; D016466:CHO Cells; D002453:Cell Cycle; D002843:Chromatin / Q000648:ultrastructure; D042002:Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006224:Cricetinae; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D010539:Permeability; D016196:S Phase
D002843:Chromatin