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Mitotic chromosomes are chromatin networks without a mechanically contiguous protein scaffold

Authors :
Poirier, Michael G.
Marko, John F.
Source :
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States. Nov 26, 2002, Vol. 99 Issue 24, p15393, 5 p.
Publication Year :
2002

Abstract

Isolated newt (Notophthalmus viridescens) chromosomes were studied by using micromechanical force measurement during nuclease digestion. Micrococcal nuclease and short-recognition-sequence blunt-cutting restriction enzymes first remove the native elastic response of, and then to go on to completely disintegrate, single metaphase newt chromosomes. These experiments rule out the possibility that the mitotic chromosome is based on a mechanically contiguous internal non-DNA (e.g., protein) 'scaffold'; instead, the mechanical integrity of the metaphase chromosome is due to chromatin itself. Blunt-cutting restriction enzymes with longer recognition sequences only partially disassemble mitotic chromosomes and indicate that chromatin in metaphase chromosomes is constrained by isolated chromatin-crosslinking elements spaced by [approximately equal to] 15 kb.

Details

ISSN :
00278424
Volume :
99
Issue :
24
Database :
Gale General OneFile
Journal :
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsgcl.95206843