The effect of in vitro dithioerythritol exposure on human metaphase chromosome structure

When human lymphoid cells in G 2 ‐phase are treated with Dithioerythritol (DTE), a widely used agent which both maintains sulphydryl groups in the reduced state, and reduces disulphides, the frequencies of banded and uncoiled metaphase chromosomes, observed on traditional chromosome slides are increased. In agreement with SUMNERS deduction (1973) it is suggested that sulphydryl‐disulphide transition during mitosis is involved in chromosome contraction and that disulphides maintain chromosomes in the condensed structurally stable state during metaphase.