The hierarchically organized splitting of chromosome bands into sub-bands analyzed by multicolor banding (MCB)

To clarify the nature of chromosome sub-bands in more detail, the multicolor banding (MCB) probe-set for chromosome 5 was hybridized to normal metaphase spreads of GTG band levels at approximately 850, approximately 550, approximately 400 and approximately 300. It could be observed that as the chromosomes became shorter, more of the initial 39 MCB pseudo-colors disappeared, ending with 18 MCB pseudo-colored bands at the approximately 300-band level. The hierarchically organized splitting of bands into sub-bands was analyzed by comparing the disappearance or appearance of pseudo-color bands of the four different band levels. The regions to split first are telomere-near, centromere-near and in 5q23-->q31, followed by 5p15, 5p14, and all GTG dark bands in 5q apart from 5q12 and 5q32 and finalized by sub-band building in 5p15.2, 5q21.2-->q21.3, 5q23.1 and 5q34. The direction of band splitting towards the centromere or the telomere could be assigned to each band separately. Pseudo-colors assigned to GTG-light bands were resistant to band splitting. These observations are in concordance with the recently proposed concept of chromosome region-specific protein swelling.     

High resolution chromosome banding in the Norway rat, Rattus norvegicus

High resolution banded chromosomes were prepared from a synchronized culture of rat fibroblasts. A maximum of 457 bands per haploid chromosome set were observed. This represents a two-fold increase when compared to the number of bands visualized in mid-metaphases using standard procedures. By reference to both G- and Q-banded karyotypes, we constructed improved idiograms of rat chromosomes at 300- and 400-band stages, respectively.     

Human chromosomal bands: nested structure,high-definition map and molecular basis

In this paper, we report investigations on the nested structure, the high-definition mapping, and the molecular basis of the classical Giemsa and Reverse bands in human chromosomes. We found the rules according to which the approximately 3,200 isochores of the human genome are assembled in high (850-band) resolution bands, and the latter in low (400-band) resolution bands, so forming the nested mosaic structure of chromosomes. Moreover, we identified the borders of both sets of chromosomal bands at the DNA sequence level on the basis of our recent map of isochores, which represent the highest-resolution, ultimate bands. Indeed, beyond the 100-kb resolution of the isochore map, the guanine and cytosine (GC) profile of DNA becomes turbulent owing to the contribution of specific sequences such as exons, introns, interspersed repeats, CpG islands, etc. The isochore-based level of definition (100 kb) of chromosomal bands is much higher than the cytogenetic definition level (2-3 Mb). The major conclusions of this work concern the high degree of order found in the structure of chromosomal bands, their mapping at a high definition, and the solution of the long-standing problem of the molecular basis of chromosomal bands, as these could be defined on the basis of compositional DNA properties alone.     

Delineation of human prometaphase paracentromeric regions using sequential GTG- and C-banding

The centromeric-paracentromeric regions of high-resolution human chromosomes have not been examined in detail. It is not clear which bands in the paracentromeric regions are included within the heterochromatin and are therefore not clinically meaningful, and which bands are excluded. This makes breakpoint analysis in these regions difficult. Using sequential G- and C-banding of high-resolution chromosome preparations from four clinically normal subjects and from one patient with a very small interstitial deletion of the chromosome 16 long arm, we have made a detailed analysis of the centromeric-paracentromeric regions of each chromosome and of the entire Y chromosome at the 400, 550, and 800-850 band stages. We present here the results of analysis of preparations at the 800-850 band stage.     

The use of subchromosome-length unique band sequences in the analysis of prophase chromosomes.

Using human prophase chromosome ideograms at the 850-band stage, we previously demonstrated that the 24 prophase ideograms can be divided into a set of 94 unique band sequences, each having a recognizable banding pattern distinct from other nonhomologous chromosome portions. Using actual prophase mitotic cells in this study, we analyzed the p arm of chromosome 11 and of chromosomes 16-22 and characterized a similar set of unique band sequences on actual chromosomes. This set of unique band sequences, a statistical comparison scheme, and image-processing techniques outlined in the present report can be used to identify and distinguish banding patterns of these chromosomes and to determine band pattern abnormalities.     

High-resolution idiogram of Giemsa R-banded human prophase chromosomes

The schematic representation of RHG-banded chromosomes (R-banding was produced by heat denaturation followed by Giemsa staining (RHG) in the 850-band range per haploid set, was prepared showing the relative position, the specific size, and the characteristic staining intensity for each band. To this idiogram was adapted the new International Standard Cytogenetic Nomenclature. Our aim was to produce a realistic idiogram which could help in the preparation of R-banded prophase karyotypes and in the localization of chromosomal rearrangements. A comparative analysis of bands at prophase and metaphase revealed certain aspects of the dynamics involved in chromosome condensation and in R-band organization. The effect of chromosome elongation on the appearance of R-bands within heterochromatic regions has also been discussed.     

Structure of human chromosomes studied by atomic force microscopy. Part II. Relationship between structure and cytogenetic bands

In the first part of this work, human chromosomes were characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM) in air and in aqueous solution. The analysis of the images suggests that the last level of organization consists of a radial arrangement of chromatin loops which are anchored to a fiber which is folded giving a pattern of bands which differs in volume. Here the pattern of bands observed by AFM is compared to the cytogenetic map at the 850-band level. Thus thicker and thinner bands are identified as G and R bands, respectively. Finally a model is proposed which links genome sequence, cytogenetics, and chromosome structure.     

Circular dichroism of squid rhodopsin and its intermediates

Circular dichroism (CD) and absorption spectra of squid (Todarodes pacificus) rhodopsin, isorhodopsin and the intermediates were measured at low temperatures. Squid rhodopsin has positive CD bands at wavelengths corresponding the - and β-absorption bands at liquid nitrogen temperature (CD maxima: 485 nm at -band and 348 nm at β-band) as well as at room temperature (CD maxima: 474 nm at -band and 347 nm at β-band). The rotational strength of the -band has a molecular ellipticity about twice that of cattle rhodopsin. The CD spectrum of bathorhodopsin displays a negative peak at 532 nm, the rotational strength of which has an absolute value slightly larger than that of rhodopsin. The reversal in sign at -band of the CD spectrum may indicate that the isomerization of retinal chromophore from twisted 11-cis form to twisted 11-trans form has occurred in the process of conversion from rhodopsin to bathorhodopsin. Lumirhodopsin has a small negative CD band at 490 nm, the maximum of which lies at 25 nm shorter wavelengths than the absorption maximum (515 nm), and a large positive CD band near 290 nm, which is not observed in rhodopsin and the other intermediates. This band may be derived from a conformational change of the opsin. In the process of changing from lumirhodopsin to LM-rhodopsin, the CD bands at visible and near ultraviolet regions disappear. Both alkaline and acid metarhodopsins have no CD bands at visible and near ultraviolet regions.     

Superoxide Dismutase (SOD)Zymogram Patterns and Their Geographical Distribution of Wild (Glycine soja) and Cultivated Soybean (G. max) in China

The purpose of this study was to examine the superoxide dismutase (SOD) zymogram patterns, their frequency and geographical distribution of wild (Glycine soja) and cultivated soybean (G. max) in China. Seeds of 226 wild soybean germplasms and 104 cultivated soybean cultivars (land races) were collected from all provinces and autonomous regions in China except Taiwan, Xinjiang and Qinghai provinces About 50 embryos per wild soybean germplasm and I0 embryos per cultivated soybean cultivars were used for test. Vertical polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and a stainning system modified after Luo (1984)were used. The Japanese GS- 930 Scanner was used in gel-plate scanning. In program scanning the maximum and minimum absorption wavelength were 700 and 550 nm respectively. The results showed that: 1. Six zymogram patterns were found in soybean (Fig. 1, 2). Wild soybean displayed five patterns (Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅳ Ⅴ, Ⅵ), while the cultivated soybean displayed only two patterns (Ⅱ, Ⅲ). 2. Fourty six percent of wild germplasms gave an 7-band zymogram (Table Ⅰ) (pattern Ⅰ), fourty nine percent had a 6th and 7th band with faster mobility (pattern Ⅱ), about two percent produced a 6-band zymogram which lacked the SODc4 band (pattern Ⅳ), about two percent had a 5-band pattern which lacked the SODc,c4 bands (pattern Ⅴ), and only one germptasm displayed a 5-band zymogram which lacked SODb2b3 bands (pattern Ⅵ). 3. More than ninty eight percent of cultivated cultivars belonged to pattern Ⅱ, only about two percent belonged to pattern Ⅲ. 4. The geographical distribution of frequency of pattern Ⅱ between wild and cultivated soybean was most close in 36–51º N area. The difference of zymograms between G. soja and G. max, and the problems of the origional area and evolution of soybean were discussed.     

Bacteriochlorophyll a-types in chromatophore and subchromatophore preparations from Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides.

Comparison of absorption and circular dichroism (CD) spectra in the near infrared region was made with chromatophore and subchromatophore preparations obtained from Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides. The 850 nm absorption band had a positive correlation with the 850 nm and 870 nm CD bands. The 800 nm and 870 nm absorption bands seemed not to correlate with any CD bands. Lipid contents in chromatophores and subchromatophores were measured. Lipids in membranes seemed to contribute to the appearance of the 870 nm absorption band, but not to that of the 800 nm and 850 nm absorption bands. The time courses of absorbance changes were compared at 800, 850, and 870 nm in detergent-treated chromatophores. Relative changes of absorbances differed from one another. The present results suggest that the three absorption bands are due to three different bacteriochlorophyll a-types and the 850 nm absorption band originates from exciton-coupling of bacteriochlorophyll a.     

人类染色体850—1000条带的高分辨技术

人类染色体高分辨技术包括标本制作和带型识别两个不可分割的部分,本文介绍了一种显示人类单组染色体850—1000条带的高分辨标本制作技术和识别要点,并提供了从850—1000条带阶段的模式核型图。     

A prospective cytogenetic study of 36 cases of DiGeorge syndrome

Cytogenetic analysis was carried out in a prospective series of 36 children with DiGeorge syndrome. High-resolution banding (> 850 bands/haploid set) was achieved in 30 cases. Monosomy 22q11.21-->q11.23 was found in 9 of these 30 cases. In each of these cases monosomy 22q11.21-->q11.23 resulted from an interstitial deletion and not from a translocation. No other chromosome abnormalities were seen.     

两种泥鳅中Sox基因的检出(英文)

性别决定基因ＳＲＹ都具有一个高度保守的基因序列──ＨＭＧ－ｂｏｘ,编码Ｓｏｘ蛋白,在胚胎发育过程中起重要作用。本文利用两种引物检测了泥鳅和大鳞副泥鳅的Ｓｏｘ基因。第一对引物特异扩增人类ＳＲＹ基因的保守区。在扩增泥鳅的基因组ＤＮＡ时可见长度分别为２００、５５０、９４０和１０００ｂｐ的四条扩增带。在大鳞副泥鳅中可以扩增出２００、５５０、９００ｂｐ三条带（Ｆｉｇ．１）。Ｓｏｕｔｈｅｒｎ杂交表明２００和５５０ｂｐ两条带可以和ＳＲＹ基因探针杂交（Ｆｉｇ．２）。第二对引物是兼并引物,可以特异扩增Ｓｏｘ基因的ＨＭＧ－ｂｏｘ区域。以基因组ＤＮＡ为模板可以在大鳞副泥鳅中扩增出２２０、５５０、７００和１５００ｂｐ四条带（Ｆｉｇ．３）;而在泥鳅中则为２２０、５３０、５７０和１５００ｂｐ四条带（Ｆｉｇ．４）。ＰＣＲ产物的长度差异被认为是由于部分Ｓｏｘ基因的ＨＭＧ－ｂｏｘ区域中存在着内含子。没有发现性别特异扩增带。以上结果说明哺乳动物与性决定有关的组分在脊椎动物中是广泛存在的。但这些组分在鱼类中是否与性决定有关,或仅是哺乳动物性决定因子的进化前体尚不得而知。无论如何广泛深入研究鱼类的Ｓｏｘ基因对于揭示性决定系统和因子的进化方式是十分     

Characteristics and variations of B-type DNA conformations in solution: a quantitative analysis of Raman band intensities of eight DNAs

Raman spectra were obtained from four bacterial DNAs varying in GC content and four periodic DNA polymers in 0.1 M NaCl at 25 degrees C. A curve fitting procedure was employed to quantify and compare Raman band characteristics (peak location, height, and width) from 400 to 1600 cm-1. This procedure enabled us to determine the minimum number of Raman bands in regions with overlapping peaks. Quantitative comparison of the Raman bands of the eight DNAs provided several new results. All of the DNAs examined required bands near 809 (+/- 7) and 835 (+/- 5) cm-1 to accurately reproduce the experimental spectra. Since bands at these frequencies are associated with A-family and B-family conformations, respectively, this result indicates that all DNAs in solution have a mixture of conformations on the time scale of the Raman scattering process. Band characteristics in the 800-850-cm-1 region exhibited some dependence on CG content and base pair sequence. As previously noted by Thomas and Peticolas [Thomas, G. A., & Peticolas, W. L. (1983) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 105, 993], the poly[d(A)].poly[d(T)] spectra were qualitatively distinct in this region. The A-family band is clearly observed at 816 cm-1. The intensity of this band and that of the B-family band at 841 cm-1 were similar, however, to intensities in the natural DNA spectra. Three bands at 811, 823, and 841 cm-1 were required to reproduce the 800-850-cm-1 region of the poly[d(A-T)].poly[d(A-T)] spectra. This may indicate the presence of three backbone conformations in this DNA polymer. Analysis of intensity vs. GC content for 42 Raman bands confirmed previous assignments of base and backbone vibrations and provided additional information on a number of bands.     

Standard G-, Q-, and R-banded ideograms of the domestic sheep (Ovis aries): homology with cattle (Bos taurus). Report of the committee for the standardization of the sheep karyotype

Revised G-, Q- and R-banded karyotypes and ideograms for sheep chromosomes at the 420-band level of resolution are presented. The positions of landmark bands on the sheep chromosomes are defined by their distance relative to the centromere to facilitate comparison with equivalent cattle chromosomes. Chromosome-specific (reference) molecular markers that have been mapped to sheep chromosomes and their equivalent cattle chromosomes are proposed. Reference markers will facilitate genome comparisons between sheep and cattle and minimise confusion due to chromosome nomenclature. Numbering of the Robertsonian translocation chromosomes remains as previously reported.     

Standard G-, Q-, and R-banded ideograms of the domestic sheep (Ovis aries): homology with cattle (Bos taurus). Report of the committee for the standardization of the sheep karyotype.

Revised G-, Q- and R-banded karyotypes and ideograms for sheep chromosomes at the 420-band level of resolution are presented. The positions of landmark bands on the sheep chromosomes are defined by their distance relative to the centromere to facilitate comparison with equivalent cattle chromosomes. Chromosome-specific (reference) molecular markers that have been mapped to sheep chromosomes and their equivalent cattle chromosomes are proposed. Reference markers will facilitate genome comparisons between sheep and cattle and minimise confusion due to chromosome nomenclature. Numbering of the Robertsonian translocation chromosomes remains as previously reported.     

Prophase chromosome unique band sequences: definition and utilization

Extensive experience with the analysis of human prophase chromosomes and studies into the complexity of prophase banding patterns have suggested that at least some prophase chromosomal segments can be accurately identified and characterized independently of the morphology of the chromosome as a whole. The feasibility of identifying and analyzing specified prophase chromosome segments was thus investigated as an alternative approach to prophase chromosome analysis based on whole-chromosome recognition. Through the use of prophase idiograms at the 850-band stage (Francke, 1981) and a systematic comparison system, we have demonstrated that it is possible to divide the 24 human prophase idiograms into a set of 94 unique band sequences, each of which has a banding pattern that is recognizable and distinct from any other nonhomologous chromosome portion. The use of a unique band sequence approach in prophase chromosome analysis is expected to increase efficiency and sensitivity through more effective use of available banding information.     

Generation of a complete set of human telomeric band painting probes by chromosome microdissection

Chromosomal rearrangements involving telomeric bands have been frequently detected in many malignancies and congenital diseases. To develop a useful tool to study chromosomal rearrangements within the telomeric band effectively and accurately, a whole set of telomeric band painting probes (TBP) has been generated by chromosome microdissection. The intensity and specificity of these TBPs have been tested by fluorescence in situ hybridization and all TBPs showed strong and specific signals to target regions. TBPs of 6q and 17p were successfully used to detect the loss of the terminal band of 6q in a hepatocellular carcinoma cell line and a complex translocation involving the 17p terminal band in a melanoma cell line. Meanwhile, the TBP of 21q was used to detect a de novo translocation, t(12;21), and the breakpoint at 21q was located at 21q22.2. Further application of these TBPs should greatly facilitate the cytogenetic analysis of complex chromosome rearrangements involving telomeric bands.