Open AccessFluorochromes and heterochromatin. A study of the chromosomes of Microtus agrestis L.
Author(s) -
NATARAJAN A. T.,
SHARMA R. P.,
AHNSTRÖM G.
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
hereditas
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.819
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1601-5223
pISSN - 0018-0661
DOI - 10.1111/j.1601-5223.1971.tb02436.x
Subject(s) - heterochromatin , biology , euchromatin , microtus , constitutive heterochromatin , autosome , fluorescence , heterochromatin protein 1 , facultative , genetics , zoology , x chromosome , chromosome , ecology , gene , optics , physics
Fluorescent patterns of the chromosomes of the female Microtus agrestis , following binding to quinacrine mustard dihydrochloride or quinacrine dihydrochloride, have been studied. In the X chromosomes constitutive and facultative heterochromatin or euchromatin were found to exhibit different intensities of fluorescence. In addition, the two X chromosomes could be distinguished from each other by the different patterns of fluorescence. Almost all the 24 pairs of autosomes show characteristic fluorescent patterns that are consistent and reproducible and can be identified. The probable relationship between heterochromatin and differential binding of fluorochromes is discussed.