Identification of left-handed Z-DNA by indirect immunomethods in metaphasic chromosomes of a mammal, Gerbillus nigeriae (Gerbillidae, Rodentia)

Antisera and antibodies against Z-DNA were used on metaphasic fixed chromosomes of a mammal, Gerbillus nigeriae (Gerbillidae, Rodentia). By indirect immunofluorescence and indirect immunoperoxidase labelling a heavy staining was detected in a fraction of the R-band positive heterochromatic segments, which are presumed to be rich in G-C base pairs. A weak and non homogeneous staining was also observed on euchromatic segments. The presence of a left-handed Z-DNA in mammalian chromosomes is discussed.