Preparation of pea (Pisum sativum L.) chromosome and nucleus suspensions from single root tips

A high-yield method for the isolation of intact nuclei and chromosomes in suspension from a variable number of pea root tips (1–10) has been developed. This procedure is based on a two-step cell-cycle synchronization of root-tip meristems to obtain a high mitotic index, followed by formaldehyde fixation and mechanical isolation of chromosomes and nuclei by homogenization. In the explant, up to 50% of metaphases were induced through a synchronization of the cell cycle at the G₁/S interface with hydroxyurea (1.25 mM), followed, after a 3-h release, by a block in metaphase with amiprophos-methyl (10 M). The quality and quantity of nuclei and chromosomes were related to the extent of the fixation. Best results were obtained after a 30-min fixation with 2% and 4% formaldehyde for nuclei and chromosomes, respectively. The method described here allowed the isolation of nuclei and chromosomes, even from a single root tip, with a yield of 1×10⁵/root and 1.4×10⁵/root, respectively. Isolated suspensions were suitable for flow cytometric analysis and sorting and PRINS labelling with a rDNA probe.     

Chromosome analysis and sorting in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vicia sativa</Emphasis> using flow cytometry

Procedures were developed for flow cytometric analysis and sorting of mitotic chromosomes (flow cytogenetics) of common vetch (Vicia sativa L., 2n=12). Suspensions of intact chromosomes were prepared from root tips after cell cycle synchronization, formaldehyde fixation, and mechanical homogenization. On average, 3 × 10⁵ morphologically intact chromosomes could be isolated from 25 root tips. Flow cytometric analysis of DAPI-stained chromosomes resulted in histograms of relative fluorescence intensity (flow karyotypes) containing four peaks, representing particular chromosomes and/or pairs of chromosomes with similar relative DNA content. Peaks I and II were assigned to chromosomes 6 and 5, respectively. These chromosomes could be sorted with a purity exceeding 90 %. The two remaining peaks on the flow karyotype were composite, each of them representing a pair of chromosomes. Chromosomes 1 and 3 were assigned to composite peak III while chromosomes 2 and 4 were assigned to composite peak IV. The chromosomes could be sorted with a purity of 99 % from both composite peaks. Bivariate flow karyotyping after simultaneous staining of chromosomes with DAPI and mithramycin was not found helpful in discriminating additional chromosomes. This study extends the number of legume species for which flow cytogenetics is available and provides a new tool for targeted and effective analysis and mapping of common vetch genome.     

A high-yield procedure for isolation of metaphase chromosomes from root tips ofVicia faba L.

A new method is described for the isolation of large quantities of Vicia faba metaphase chromosomes. Roots were treated with 2.5 mM hydroxyurea for 18 h to accumulate meristem tip cells at the G₁/S interface. After release from the block, the cells re-entered the cell cycle with a high degree of synchrony. A treatment with 2.5 M amiprophos-methyl (APM) was used to accumulate mitotic cells in metaphase. The highest metaphase index (53.9%) was achieved when, 6 h after the release from the hydroxyurea block, the roots were exposed to APM for 4 h. The chromosomes were released from formaldehyde-fixed root tips by chopping with a scalpel in LB01 lysis buffer. Both the quality and the quantity of isolated chromosomes, examined microscopically and by flow cytometry, depended on the extent of the fixation. The best results were achieved after fixation with 6% formaldehyde for 30 min. Under these conditions, 1 · 10⁶ chromosomes were routinely obtained from 30 root tips. The chromosomes were morphologically intact and suitable both for high-resolution chromosome studies and for flow-cytometric analysis and sorting. After the addition of hexylene glycol, the chromosome suspensions could be stored at 4° C for six months without any signs of deterioration.Abbreviations APM amiprophos-methyl - DAPI 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole The authors thank Mrs. Jiina Eliáová for her excellent technical assistance and Dr. Slavomir Ondro for the supply of V. faba seeds. A gift sample of APM from the Mobay Corporation (Agricultural Chemicals Division, Kansas City, Mo., USA) is gratefully acknowledged.     

Flow Cytometric Analysis and Chromosome Sorting of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

Flow cytometric analysis was systematically performed to optimize the concentration and duration of hydroxyurea (DNA synthesis inhibitor) and trifluralin (metaphase blocking reagent) treatments for synchronizing the cell cycle and accumulating metaphase chromosomes in barley root tips. A high metaphase index (76.5% in the root tip meristematic area) was routinely achieved. Seedlings of about 1.0-cm length were treated with 1.25 mM hydroxyurea for 14 h to synchronize the root tip meristem cells at the S/G2 phase. After rinsing with hydroxyurea, the seedlings were incubated in a hydroxyurea-free solution for 2 h and were treated with 1 M trifluralin for 4 h to accumulate mitotic cells in the metaphase. The consistent high metaphase index depended on the uniform germination of seeds prior to treatment. High-quality and high-quantity isolated metaphase chromosomes were suitable for flow cytometric analysis and sorting. Flow karyotypes of barley chromosomes were established via univariate and bivariate analysis. A variation of flow karyotypes was detected among barley lines. Two single chromosome types were identified and sorted. Bivariate analysis showed no variation among barley individual chromosomes in AT and GC content.     

Synchronization of cell division in root tips of seven major cereal species for high yields of metaphase chromosomes for flow-cytometric analysis and sorting

Plant tissues that yield large numbers of mitotic cells are useful for cytogenetic analyses and prerequisite to flow-cytometric analysis and sorting of plant chromosomes. Synchronization of cell division in samples from which chromosomes are to be isolated is necessary to ensure high yields of chromosomes. A method developed for synchronizing cell division in root tips ofVicia faba (Dolezel et al., 1992; Lucretti et al., 1993) has been modified, and parameters are presented for the effective synchronization of cell division in root tips ofAvena sativa (oat),Hordeum vulgare (barley),Oryza sativa (rice),Secale cereale (rye),Sorghum bicolor (sorghum),Triticum aestivum (wheat), andZea mays (maize). Optimum parameters for metaphase arrest and collection of chromosomes from synchronized samples are also presented. Using these parameters, the yield and quality of chromosome preparations are appropriate for flow-cytometric characterization and sorting.     

Flow Cytometric Analysis and Chromosome Sorting of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

Flow cytometric analysis was systematically performed to optimize the concentration and duration of hydroxyurea (DNA synthesis inhibitor) and trifluralin (metaphase blocking reagent) treatments for synchronizing the cell cycle and accumulating metaphase chromosomes in barley root tips. A high metaphase index (76.5% in the root tip meristematic area) was routinely achieved. Seedlings of about 1.0-cm length were treated with 1.25 mM hydroxyurea for 14 h to synchronize the root tip meristem cells at the S/G2 phase. After rinsing with hydroxyurea, the seedlings were incubated in a hydroxyurea-free solution for 2 h and were treated with 1 microM trifluralin for 4 h to accumulate mitotic cells in the metaphase. The consistent high metaphase index depended on the uniform germination of seeds prior to treatment. High-quality and high-quantity isolated metaphase chromosomes were suitable for flow cytometric analysis and sorting. Flow karyotypes of barley chromosomes were established via univariate and bivariate analysis. A variation of flow karyotypes was detected among barley lines. Two single chromosome types were identified and sorted. Bivariate analysis showed no variation among barley individual chromosomes in AT and GC content.     

Flow Karyotyping of Wheat Addition Line “T240” with a Haynaldia villosa 6VS Telosome

To construct a chromosome-specific DNA library of chromosome 6VS from Haynaldia villosa, a wheat alien chromosome addition line T240 with a 6VS chromosome arm and its parental common wheat cv. CA921 were used to optimize protocols for preparing chromosome suspension amenable to flow sorting of the 6VS chromosome. Our results showed that root tips incubated sequentially in Hogland’s solution containing 1.25 mM hydroxyurea (DNA synthesis inhibitor) for 18 h, a hydroxyurea-free period for 2 h, and 1 μM trifluralin for 4 h (metaphase blocking reagent) increased the metaphase index (MI) by up to 62 % . Many metaphase chromosomes were released to form a chromosome suspension when root tips fixed in 2 % paraformaldehyde were treated in a homogenizer at 9,500 rpm for 10–15 s. Most of the released chromosomes had intact morphology. The background solution of chromosome suspension was clear and relatively few of cell debris and chromosome clumps. Univariate flow karyotypes were established with chromosome suspension flow through FACS Vantage 2000 SE flow cytometer. The flow karyotype of CA921 consisted of four chromosome peaks, whereas that for T240 had a fifth peak. This fifth peak in T240 contained the telosome, which was further confirmed to be 6VS through fluorescence in situ hybridization.     

GISH and AFLP analyses of novel Brassica napus lines derived from one hybrid between B. napus and Orychophragmus violaceus

New Brassica napus inbred lines with different petal colors and with canola quality and increased levels of oleic (∼70%, 10% higher than that of B. napus parent) and linoleic (28%) acids have been developed in the progenies of one B. napus cv. Oro × Orychophragmus violaceus F₅ hybrid plant (2n=31). Their genetic constituents were analyzed by using the methods of genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) and amplified fragments length polymorphism (AFLP). No intact chromosomes of O. violaceus origin were detected by GISH in their somatic cells of ovaries and root tips (2n=38) and pollen mother cells (PMCs) with normal chromosome pairing (19 bivalents) and segregation (19:19), though signals of variable sizes and intensities were located mainly at terminal and centromeric parts of some mitotic chromosomes and meiotic bivalents at diakinesis or chromosomes in anaphase I groups and one large patch of chromatin was intensively labeled and separated spatially in some telophase I nuclei and metaphase II PMCs. AFLP analysis revealed that substantial genomic changes have occurred in these lines and O. violaceus–specific bands, deleted bands in ‘Oro’ and novel bands for two parents were detected. The possible mechanisms for these results were discussed.     

Cell division activation in the quiescent center of excised maize root tip

The phenomenon of activating cell proliferation in the quiescent center of excised maize roots is described. The root tips were grown on wet filter paper in Petri dishes. This phenomenon was observed in 8 to 14 maize cultivars and was absent in excised Arabidopsis root tips. The distribution of mitoses in meristems greatly varied in individual seedlings roots from the same seed lot and seedlings of different cultivars. Meristem opening was observed after the removal of small root tips not longer than 3 mm and intact seminal roots. Sucrose (2%) and 10⁻⁶–10⁻⁸ M indole-3-acetic acid did not prevent meristem opening. These findings indicate that the state of quiescent center is maintained by a system of intercellular and interorgan relations, which are to be clarified.     

Induction of chromosomal disturbances other than tetraploidy in barley root tips by colchicine treatment

Barley embryos were treated by 0.1% colchicine for 30 min. Samples of root tips were fixed after 4 h, 8 h and 12 h. In the first sample,c-metaphases, normal metaphases and anaphases were present jointly. Inc-metaphases, chromosomes sometimes tended to make two groups with 7 chromosomes in each. In anaphases, lagging chromosomes, tripolar and multipolar anaphasos were found. No chromosomal aberrations were detected in anaphases and metaphases. No chromosome disturbances were found in root tips sampled 8 h and 12 h after colchicine treatment.     

SUPERNUMERARY CHROMOSOMES IN SAXIFRAGA VIRGINIENSIS (SAXIFRAGACEAE)

Acetocarmine squashes of root tips have demonstrated that 2n = 20 and 38 in Saxifraga virginiensis. These contrast with the earlier reported count of 2n = 28 for this species. In several populations supernumerary chromosomes were detected. Both intrapopulational and interpopulational variation in supernumerary chromosome number were detected, with the largest number of supernumerary chromosomes observed being six. Because these supernumerary chromosomes are equal in size to many of the smaller A chromosomes during mitotic metaphase, the presence of supernumerary chromosomes in this species could not be ascertained by analysis of mitotic metaphase preparations alone. During mitotic prophase, however, the supernumerary chromosomes of S. virginiensis are highly heterochromatic, appearing more densely coiled and darkly stained than the A chromosomes. This characteristic facilitated the recognition of supernumerary chromosomes in this species. The similarity in size of A and supernumerary chromosomes during mitotic metaphase and the observation of six supernumerary chromosomes in one population suggest that the count of 2n = 28 reported earlier for S. virginiensis may actually be a misinterpretation of 2n = 20 plus 8 supernumerary chromosomes. Furthermore, these findings and the observation of this same supernumerary chromosome phenomenon in other species of Saxifraga raise the possibility that some of the many disparate chromosome counts attributed to aneuploidy in the large genus Saxifraga may also be the result of misinterpretations of supernumerary chromosomes as A chromosomes.     

In vitro maturation of oocytes from a marsupial,the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii)

This study examined the competence of oocytes from the tammar wallaby, Macropus eugeniio mature in vitro. Oocytes were collected from follicles >1 mm diameter 24 h after pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG) treatment and incubated in Eagle's minimum essential medium supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum, at 35°C in 5% CO₂ in air for 24, 36, or 48 h. Oocytes were incubated either granulosa cell-intact or granulosa cell-free or in the presence of 10 IU ml^?1 PMSG or 10 μg ml^?1 porcine luteinizing hormone (LH) + 10 μg ml^?1 porcine follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). The ability of oocytes recovered from small (<1.5-mm-diameter) and large (≥1.5-mm-diameter) follicles to mature in vitro was also examined. The nuclear status of oocytes was assessed using the DNA-specific dye Hoechst 33342. Initially, all oocytes examined contained a germinal vesicle. After 24 h of culture, 60% of oocytes had progressed to metaphase I or anaphase I. After 36 h, approximately 20% of oocytes possessed metaphase II chromosomes, and 20% of oocytes were at metaphase I or anaphase I. At the completion of the 48 h culture period, 40% of oocytes had completed maturation to the metaphase II stage. In vitro oocyte maturation after 48 h was not affected by the presence of granulosa cells, PMSG, or LH and FSH. More oocytes from large follicles (55%) completed maturation by 48 h than from small follicles (20%). Approximately 50% of oocytes remained at the GV stage at all times under all conditions. Marsupial oocytes thus undergo spontaneous nuclear maturation once removed from the follicular environment, suggesting a basically similar control system to that in placental mammals. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Mitotic cycle kinetics of root meristems of isolated barley embryos and intact seedlings. Labelling of nuclei by tetraploidy

The minimum length of the mitotic cycle of root meristems of cultivated barley embryos and intact seedlings was longer than that measured by the construction of the labelled mitoses curve; it was 10–12 h for intact seedlings and 16 h for cultivated barley embryos. Action of colchicine on interphase was detected. Colchicine induces the increase of the frequency of prophases starting from the fourth hour. The most probable explanation is shortening of the S-phase. As the whole mitotic cycle duration is increased in comparison with that after³H-thymidine, it is most probable that G₁ phase duration is increased by colchicine treatment. Different cytogenetic effects of colchicine were analysed in detail. A basic difference between the response of root meristems of isolated embryos and of intact seedlings was found. In isolated embryos, the effect of 0.1% and 0.4% colchicine (i.e. blockage of anaphase movement, metaphase arrest and contraction of chromosomes) disappears within 2–5 h after removing the colchicine. In intact seedlings, the effect of colchicine is maintained for a considerably longer time. It leads to gradual accumulation of metaphases over 9 h after pulse treatment and this accumulation of metaphases leads to a gradual increase of the incidence of tetraploid mitoses starting from 10th – 12th till 22nd hour after the pulse. This is the reason why maximum frequency of tetraploid cells in root meristems of cultivated isolated embryos was 16 h after the pulse (i.e. at the beginning of their incidence) and it reached the value 5.4% while in seedlings the maximum was 22 h after colchicine treatment and it reached the value 38%.     

百日草根尖和花药愈伤组织染色体制片技术

以种子萌发根尖和花药愈伤组织为材料,研究了取样时间、预处理方法对百日草染色体制片的影响。结果表明:根尖上午8:00～9:00,花药愈伤继代3～5d上午9:00～10:00为最佳取样预处理时间;采用三种药剂预处理活体根尖,以4℃下饱和对二氯苯溶液或0.002mol/L的8-羟基喹啉液预处理8h效果最佳,花药愈伤则以饱和对二氯苯溶液预处理6h效果最佳。本实验的预处理温度是固定的,可克服预处理随季节和时间温度的变化而带来的不稳定性,且百日草花药愈伤染色体观察为首次报道。     

Protein synthesis in trifluralin-treated corn root tips

The effect of trifluralin (,,-trifluoro-2,6-dinitro-N,N-dipropyl-p-toluidine) on protein synthesis in corn (Zea mays) root tips was determined. ¹⁴C-leucine uptake and subsequent incorporation into protein in intact and excised root tips was measured. Root tips were treated with and without 15 µM trifluralin for 2 hr; incorporation of ¹⁴C-leucine was observed during a 20-min interval. Total amino acid content in the soluble pool and protein hydrolysate was reduced in the excised tissue by the herbicide. Kinetic analysis showed trifluralin had no effect on endogenous leucine pool size nor on the rate of protein synthesis in intact tissue. Uptake was unaffected; however, in excised tissue uptake increased 100% over the control. While ¹⁴C-leucine content was greater in both the soluble pool and protein in treated, excised root tips, analysis showed the apparent increase in protein synthesis was in response to increased pool size.     

The relative arrangement of chromosomes in mitotic interphase and metaphase in Haplopappus gracilis

The relative position of mitotic metaphase chromosomes in Haplopappus gracilis is studied by direct observation of undisturbed metaphase cells in root tips: the homologous chromosomes lay always adjacent to each other, whereas the relative position of the pairs is not constant. — The relative position of interphase chromosomes is inferred from the frequency of radiation-induced mutual rearrangements between any possible pair of chromosomes. — It is concluded that the relative position of interphase chromosomes is reflected by the relative position of metaphase chromosomes in Haplopappus gracilis.     

Preparation and flow cytometric analysis of metaphase chromosomes of tomato

Summary A procedure for the preparation of tomato chromosome suspensions suitable for flow cytometric analysis is described. Rapidly growing cell suspension cultures of Lycopersicon esculentum cv VFNT cherry and L. pennellii LA716 were treated with colchicine to enrich for metaphase chromosomes. Metaphase indices between 20 and 35% were routinely obtained when cultures were exposed to 0.1% colchicine for 15–18 h after 2 days of subculture. Mitotic cells were isolated by brief treatment with cell wall digesting enzymes in a medium with low osmolarity (325 mOsm/kg of H₅₂O). The low osmolarity medium was needed to avoid the chromosome clumping and decondensation seen in standard media. Suspensions of intact chromosomes were prepared by lysing swollen protoplasts in various buffers (MgSO₄, polyamines, hexylene glycol, or KCl-propidium iodide) similar in contents to the buffers used to isolate mammalian chromosomes. For univariate flow cytometric analysis, chromosome suspensions were stained with a fluorescent DNA-binding stain (propidium iodide, Hoechst 33258, mithramycin, or chromomycin A3) and analyzed using an EPICS flow cytometer (Profile Analyzer or 753). Peaks for the chromosomes, chromatids, clumps of chromosomes, nuclei, and fluorescent debris were seen on a histogram of log of fluorescence intensity, and were confirmed by microscopic examination of the objects collected by flow-sorting. Chromosome suspensions prepared in MgSO₄ buffer have the highest frequency of intact chromosomes and the least fluorescent cellular debris. Peaks similar to theoretical univariate flow karyotypes of tomato chromosomes were seen on the observed univariate flow karyotypes, but were not as well resolved. Bivariate flow analysis of tomato chromosome suspension using double-stain combination, Hoechst 33258 and chromomycin A3, and two laser beams showed better resolution of some chromosomes.     

Effect of the Cytomegalovirus on Cell Cycle Progression and Pathological Mitoses in Cultured Human Diploid Fibroblasts

The effect of the cytomegalovirus on the cell cycle was studied autoradiographically in an asynchronous culture of human diploid fibroblasts. The analysis of labeled mitosis showed that some cells infected in the S phase ceased to progress through the cell cycle at one of its phases (S, G ₂, or M); at the same time, at least part of the infected cells remained capable of entering mitosis. Beginning from day 2 after infection by cytomegalovirus, the accumulation of pathological mitotic cells blocked at metaphase was observed in the culture. Approximately 50% of these cells contained ³H-thymidine label above chromosomes. This suggested the possibility of pathological mitosis in cells that were infected both at the S and other phases of the cell cycle. The detailed morphological analysis of chromosomes at different stages of infection demonstrated that the degree of their morphological changes increases from slight (stronger condensation) to severe pathology (fragmentation). In the aggregate, the results of the study suggested that abnormal chromosome morphology resulted from irreversible cell division arrest under the effect of the cytomegalovirus.     

葫芦科植物幼嫩子房壁制片技术的优化及其染色体倍性鉴定

该研究利用黄瓜、甜瓜、西瓜和西印度黄瓜这几种葫芦科植物的幼嫩子房壁作为材料进行染色体制片,探索子房材料的样品大小、预处理时间和酶解时间对染色体制片的影响及其优化,并用该制片方法对黄瓜候选单倍体植株的子房壁进行倍性鉴定和荧光原位杂交实验。结果发现:(1)黄瓜、甜瓜、西瓜和西印度黄瓜的幼嫩子房壁最佳预处理时间分别为1 h 30 min、1 h、55 min和45 min,子房长度为0.2～1 cm,子房壁材料切成边长为1～1.5 mm小块,酶解时间为1 h 10 min～1 h 20 min时,用该优化制片方法均可观察到较多的分裂相。(2)利用该方法鉴定结果显示,葫芦科植物黄瓜、甜瓜、西瓜和西印度黄瓜的染色体分别为14、24、22和24条,黄瓜候选单倍体植株的体细胞染色体数为7条。(3)将该制片方法获得的染色体装片用于荧光原位杂交结果显示,在二倍体黄瓜染色体中有3对明亮的45S rDNA杂交信号和1对5S rDNA杂交信号,而单倍体黄瓜中相应信号数量均减半;在甜瓜、西瓜和西印度黄瓜中均有2对45S rDNA杂交信号和1对5S rDNA杂交信号。研究认为,利用葫芦科植物子房壁作为制片材料,不仅可以获得良好的分裂相,还具有易于取材、制片效率高等优点,因此子房壁制片法是研究植物染色体数目和鉴定倍性的有效方法,且该制片方法也适用于进一步的荧光原位杂交分析。     

Additive coclastogenicity of sodium selenite and caffeine in CHO cells treated withN-methyl-N′-Nitro-N-Nitrosoguanidine

The clastogenic effect ofN-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and its modulation by Na₂SeO₃ and caffeine were studied by metaphase analysis of chromosome aberrations (CA) as well as by measuring the formation and repair of single-strand (ss) DNA breaks employing hydroxylapatite chromatography. Treatment of CHO cells with MNNG (1.25 or 2.5 × 10-5M) for 3 h caused CA in 11 and 19% of metaphases scored, respectively. Pretreatment of cells with Na₂SeO₃ (1–5 μg/mL) or caffeine (0.2–2.0 mg/mL) for 2 h resulted in a 2–3.5-fold increase of CA frequency. Addition of both modulators during the mutagen exposure tended to cause a slight inhibition of clastogenic activity of MNNG (1.25 × 10⁻⁵ M) or had no effect on CA number when MNNG was used at a concentration of 2.5 × 10−5M. Posttreatment of CHO cells with Na₂SeO₃ for 20 h after MNNG was ineffective in influencing the number of metaphases with CA, whereas, at these conditions, caffeine enhanced up to 6-7-fold the clastogenic activity of MNNG. Addition of both modulators during the whole experiment, 2 h pretreatment included, resulted in a further significant increase of CA frequency up to the total pulverization of chromosomes in all metaphases scored. The coclastogenic effect of caffeine was greater in this case. The enhancement of chromosome-damaging activity of MNNG by selenite and caffeine was better expressed when this carcinogen was applied at the higher concentration used. An additive coclastogenic effect was observed in CHO cells treated simultaneously with Na₂SeO₃ and caffeine plus MNNG. In addition, the treatment of CHO cells with MNNG (5 × 10⁻⁶ M) caused a rapid increase of ssDNA breaks number reaching maximal values after 30–45 min. However, up to 50–60% of MNNG-induced ssDNA breaks were repaired during the first 60–150 min after the mutagen exposure. The 2 h pretreatment of CHO cells with Na₂SeO₃ (2 μg/mL) or the addition of this trace element after MNNG had no effect on formation and repair of MNNG-induced ssDNA breaks. The coclastogenic effect of Na₂SeO₃ in CHO cells treated with MNNG was not directly linked to the induction and disappearance of ssDNA breaks measured by hydroxylapatite chromatography.