figure legend:
Confocal sections through nuclei of human lymphocytes hybridized to detect chromosome 9 (red) and its centromeres (green). Inset: projection. Bar: 10µm
scientific background: We attempted to analyze the distribution of eu- and heterochromatin within individual chromosome territories. In particular we wanted to test a hypothesis stating that active, euchromatic regions are preferentially located at the periphery of territories because of better accessibility for factors involved in gene transcription. Conversely, inactive regions were suggested to be located in the interior of chromosome territories. With this experiment we could demonstrate that this hypothesis does not hold true for the largest block of heterochromatin, the centromere. Following deconvolution of image stacks (Huygens software, SVI) and 3-D measurements (Ellipse software, Vidito; own plug-ins) it was revealed that centromeres occupy a preferentially peripheral position on the chromosome territory.
method: Optical sections acquired on a Zeiss LSM 410 confocal scanning microscope.
method: Optical sections acquired on a Zeiss LSM 410 confocal scanning microscope.