title: Three-dimensional visualization of a human chromosome using coherent X-ray diffraction.
abstract: Coherent x-ray diffraction microscopy is a lensless phase-contrast imaging technique with high image contrast. Although electron tomography allows intensive study of the three-dimensional structure of cellular organelles, it has inherent difficulty with thick objects. X rays have the unique benefit of allowing noninvasive analysis of thicker objects and high spatial resolution. We observed an unstained human chromosome using coherent x-ray diffraction. The reconstructed images in two or three dimensions show an axial structure, which has not been observed under unstained conditions.
authors.affiliation: RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo-cho, Sayo-gun, Hyogo 679-5148, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshinori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nishino
authors.forename: Yukio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Naoko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Imamoto
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maeshima
mesh_terms: D002877:Chromosomes, Human / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction / Q000379:methods*