title: Identifying different types of chromatin using Giemsa staining.
abstract: Mixtures of polychrome methylene blue-eosin Y (i.e., Giemsa stain) are widely used in biological staining. They induce a striking purple coloration of chromatin DNA (the Romanowsky-Giemsa effect), which contrasts with the blue-stained RNA-containing cytoplasm and nucleoli. After specific prestaining treatments that induce chromatin disorganization (giving banded or harlequin chromosomes), Giemsa staining produces a differential coloration, with C- and G-bands appearing in purple whereas remaining chromosome regions are blue. Unsubstituted (TT) and bromo-substituted (BT) DNAs also appear purple and blue, respectively. The same occurs in the case of BT and BB chromatids.In addition to discussing the use of Giemsa stain as a suitable method to reveal specific features of chromosome structure, some molecular processes and models are also described to explain Giemsa staining mechanisms of chromatin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Autonomous University of Madrid, Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Stockert
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blázquez-Castro
authors.forename: Richard W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Horobin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001399:Azure Stains / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D002843:Chromatin / Q000145:classification* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002871:Chromosome Banding; D004801:Eosine Yellowish-(YS) / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008958:Models, Molecular; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D001399:Azure Stains; D002843:Chromatin; C025819:Azure B; D004801:Eosine Yellowish-(YS)