Spatial organization of chromosomes in the salivary gland nuclei of Drosophila melanogaster

230Citations
Citations of this article
70Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.
Get full text

Abstract

Using a computer-based system for model building and analysis, three-dimensional models of 24 Drosophila melanogaster salivary gland nuclei have been constructed from optically or physically sectioned glands, allowing several generalizations about chromosome folding and packaging in these nuclei. First and most surprising, the prominent coiling of the chromosomes is strongly chiral, with right-handed gyres predominating. Second, high frequency appositions between certain loci and the nuclear envelope appear almost exclusively at positions of intercalary heterochromatin; in addition, the chromocenter is always apposed to the envelope. Third, chromosomes are invariably separated into mutually exclusive spatial domains while usually extending across the nucleus in a polarized (Rabl) orientation. Fourth, the arms of each autosome are almost always juxtaposed, but no other relative arm positions are strongly favored. Finally, despite these nonrandom structural features, each chromosome is found to fold into a wide variety of different configurations. In addition, a set of nuclei has been analyzed in which the normally aggregated centromeric regions of the chromosomes are located far apart from one another. These nuclei have the same architectural motifs seen in normal nuclei. This implies that such characteristics as separate chromosome domains and specific chromosome-nuclear envelope contacts are largely independent of the relative placement of the different chromosomes within the nucleus.

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Hochstrasser, M., Mathog, D., Gruenbaum, Y., Saumweber, H., & Sedat, J. W. (1986). Spatial organization of chromosomes in the salivary gland nuclei of Drosophila melanogaster. Journal of Cell Biology, 102(1), 112–123. https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.102.1.112

Readers' Seniority

Tooltip

PhD / Post grad / Masters / Doc 23

46%

Researcher 14

28%

Professor / Associate Prof. 11

22%

Lecturer / Post doc 2

4%

Readers' Discipline

Tooltip

Agricultural and Biological Sciences 35

65%

Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Bi... 17

31%

Design 1

2%

Physics and Astronomy 1

2%

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free