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Coiled Supercoiled DNA in Critical Point Dried and Thin Sectioned Human Chromosome Fibres

Nature New Biology volume 234, pages 187–188 (1971)Cite this article

Abstract

SUPERCOILING of the DNA double helix in the deoxynucleo-histone fibril (100 Â in diameter with a pitch of 120 Â) has been well documented by X-ray diffraction1–3. The main structural element of eukaryotic metaphase chromosomes and inactive interphase chromatin, however, is a long, irregularly folded fibre, 200 to 300 Â in diameter, as electron microscopy has shown4–10. The arrangement of DNA within this fibre has not yet been established clearly. I wish to present electron micrographs of critical point dried and thin sectioned fibres of human metaphase chromosomes, which demonstrate more or less regularly distributed electron densities which could be explained by supercoiling of the 100 Â deoxynucleohistone fibril.

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  1. Kinderklinik der Universität, 4 Lindwurmstrasse, D-8000, München, 15

    FRITZ LAMPERT

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  1. FRITZ LAMPERT
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LAMPERT, F. Coiled Supercoiled DNA in Critical Point Dried and Thin Sectioned Human Chromosome Fibres. Nature New Biology 234, 187–188 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1038/newbio234187a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/newbio234187a0

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