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PMID: 3755397 Published · ppublish English Journal Article

Cryo-electron microscopy of vitrified chromosomes in situ.

The EMBO journal ·Vol. 5 ·No. 6 ·1986-06-00 ·Pages 1395-402

McDowall AW, Smith JM, Dubochet J

Abstract

Chromosomes of metaphase-arrested Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) and HeLa cells were examined in situ, unfixed and unstained, by cryo-electron microscopy. In hydrated, vitrified cryo-sections, chromosomes exhibit a characteristic homogeneous, grainy texture, which, on optical diffraction, gives rise to a broad reflection corresponding to 11 nm. No superstructure or periodic order is discernible. These observations suggest that the chromosome is formed by the compact association of 11 nm filaments, or portions thereof, interacting in a manner akin to the molecules of a liquid. Some implications of the liquid model of chromosome structure are discussed.

MeSH Terms
Animals Cell Line Chromosomes/ultrastructure Chromosomes, Human/ultrastructure Cricetinae Cricetulus Female Freezing HeLa Cells/ultrastructure Humans Male Metaphase Microscopy, Electron Ovary
Authors & Affiliations
3 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
McDowall A W
Smith J M
Dubochet J
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23 references, click to expand
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Article Info
Journal
The EMBO journal
Abbr.
EMBO J
ISSN
0261-4189
Published
1986-06-00
Pages
1395-402
Language
English
Region
England
NLM ID
8208664
PMCID
PMC1166954
Subset
IM
External Links
PubMed source PMC Full Text View journal details
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