Biomaterial Database

Involvement of higher order chromatin structures in metaphase chromosome organization. 1982

P Labhart, and T Koller, and H Wunderli

Using electron microscopy we show that the metaphase chromatin fibers of Chinese hamster ovary cells form the same ionic strength-dependent higher order structures as the corresponding interphase chromatin fibers. We present evidence that such intact chromatin fibers are a prerequisite for the maintenance of the characteristic shape of metaphase chromosomes. The evidence is based on the finding that treatment of chromosomes with 0.5 M NaCl, a condition which is known to remove histone H1 and which destroys the higher order structure of chromatin fibers, also leads to a disintegration of the metaphase chromosome structure, whereas treatment with 0.3 M (or less) NaCl has no effect on the integrity of the chromosomes and their chromatin fibers. These data support a model in which the metaphase chromosome is maintained by a tight assembly of the 25-30 nm thick chromatin fibers containing all the histones.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007399	Interphase	The interval between two successive CELL DIVISIONS during which the CHROMOSOMES are not individually distinguishable. It is composed of the G phases (G1 PHASE; G0 PHASE; G2 PHASE) and S PHASE (when DNA replication occurs).	Interphases
D008677	Metaphase	The phase of cell nucleus division following PROMETAPHASE, in which the CHROMOSOMES line up across the equatorial plane of the SPINDLE APPARATUS prior to separation.
D008854	Microscopy, Electron	Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen.	Electron Microscopy
D009707	Nucleosomes	The repeating structural units of chromatin, each consisting of approximately 200 base pairs of DNA wound around a protein core. This core is composed of the histones H2A, H2B, H3, and H4.	Dinucleosomes,Polynucleosomes,Dinucleosome,Nucleosome,Polynucleosome
D009994	Osmolar Concentration	The concentration of osmotically active particles in solution expressed in terms of osmoles of solute per liter of solution. Osmolality is expressed in terms of osmoles of solute per kilogram of solvent.	Ionic Strength,Osmolality,Osmolarity,Concentration, Osmolar,Concentrations, Osmolar,Ionic Strengths,Osmolalities,Osmolar Concentrations,Osmolarities,Strength, Ionic,Strengths, Ionic
D010053	Ovary	The reproductive organ (GONADS) in female animals. In vertebrates, the ovary contains two functional parts: the OVARIAN FOLLICLE for the production of female germ cells (OOGENESIS); and the endocrine cells (GRANULOSA CELLS; THECA CELLS; and LUTEAL CELLS) for the production of ESTROGENS and PROGESTERONE.	Ovaries
D002460	Cell Line	Established cell cultures that have the potential to propagate indefinitely.	Cell Lines,Line, Cell,Lines, Cell
D002843	Chromatin	The material of CHROMOSOMES. It is a complex of DNA; HISTONES; and nonhistone proteins (CHROMOSOMAL PROTEINS, NON-HISTONE) found within the nucleus of a cell.	Chromatins
D002875	Chromosomes	In a prokaryotic cell or in the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell, a structure consisting of or containing DNA which carries the genetic information essential to the cell. (From Singleton & Sainsbury, Dictionary of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, 2d ed)	Chromosome
D005260	Female		Females