title: Chromosome banding of mitotic chromosomes from Drosophila larval brain.
abstract: The classical chromosome-banding techniques developed for mammalian chromosomes do not differentiate the euchromatic arms of Drosophila mitotic chromosomes. However, some of these techniques produce a sharp and highly reproducible banding of Drosophila heterochromatin. For example, the use of quinacrine-, Hoechst-, and N-banding differentiates Drosophila heterochromatin into 61 cytological entities, allowing precise localization of heterochromatic breakpoints. These banding techniques can also be successfully used to differentiate mitotic heterochromatin of various Drosophila and mosquito species. Here we present protocols routinely used in our laboratories for chromosome banding, including the use of Hoechst, 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI), quinacrine, and Giemsa stains.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pimpinelli
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bonaccorsi
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fanti
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gatti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology; D002871:Chromosome Banding / Q000379:methods*; D002875:Chromosomes; D004396:Coloring Agents; D004330:Drosophila / Q000166:cytology*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D007814:Larva / Q000166:cytology; D008938:Mitosis
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes