title: Propidium iodide for making heterochromatin more evident in the C-banding technique.
abstract: The detection of regions of heterochromatin has been the subject of intense investigation. We investigated an adaptation of the commonly used technique by replacing the nonfluorescent dye, Giemsa, by a fluorescent one, propidium iodide. This adaptation produces greater contrast of the heterochromatic bands in metaphase chromosomes and can be especially valuable when the organisms studied possess heterochromatin that is pale and difficult to visualize. We discuss the interactions of these two dyes with DNA and the excitation of the fluorescent dye when irradiated with ultraviolet light.
authors: Department of Genetics and Evolution, Federal University of São Carlos, Highway Washington Luís (SP 310) Km 235, CEP: 13565-905, São Carlos, Brazil.
authors: R L
authors: RL
authors: Lui
authors: D R
authors: DR
authors: Blanco
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Moreira-Filho
authors: V P
authors: VP
authors: Margarido
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002871:Chromosome Banding / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D005399:Fishes / Q000235:genetics; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry*; D006570:Heterochromatin / Q000737:chemistry*; D011419:Propidium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006570:Heterochromatin; D011419:Propidium