Fluorescence polarization and pulse width analysis of chromosomes by a flow system.

Isolated Chinese hamster chromosomes have been analyzed using a multiparameter computer-controlled cell sorter to obtain information about unique properties of individual chromosomes. Parameters other than DNA content were sought that would further aid in distinguishing among chromosomes. The polarized emission of the DNA-specific bis-benzimidazole dye Hoechst 33342 was measured for each class of chromosomes identified by a distinct peak, i.e., differeing in DNA content. The emission anisotropy values for all chromosome classes was constant (emission anisotropy = 0.30), and the same value was obtained for purified DNA in solution. Pulse width was found to be a good parameter for resolving chromosomes as a function of total emission in the case of the smaller chromosomes and orientation (i.e., arm length) for large chromosomes. A simple theoretical model for predicting the pulse shapes generated by arbitrarily oriented, thin, rigid rods was developed and applied to the evaluation of the experimental data.