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Three-dimensional distribution of centromeric or paracentromeric heterochromatin of chromosomes 1, 7, 15 and 17 in human lymphocyte nuclei studied with light microscopic axial tomography

  1. Steffen Dietzel1,
  2. Eva Weilandt2,
  3. Roland Eils3,4,
  4. Christian Münkel3,4,
  5. Christoph Cremer2,3,
  6. Thomas Cremer1,3

Article first published online: 25 MAY 2001

DOI: 10.1002/1361-6374(199509)3:3<121::AID-BIO3>3.0.CO;2-E

Issue

Bioimaging

Bioimaging

Volume 3, Issue 3, pages 121–133, September 1995

Additional Information

How to Cite

Dietzel, S., Weilandt, E., Eils, R., Münkel, C., Cremer, C. and Cremer, T. (1995), Three-dimensional distribution of centromeric or paracentromeric heterochromatin of chromosomes 1, 7, 15 and 17 in human lymphocyte nuclei studied with light microscopic axial tomography. Bioimaging, 3: 121–133. doi: 10.1002/1361-6374(199509)3:3<121::AID-BIO3>3.0.CO;2-E

Author Information

  1. 1

    Institute of Human Genetics and Anthropology, University of Heidelberg, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany

  2. 2

    Institute of Applied Physics, University of Heidelberg, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany

  3. 3

    Interdisciplinary Center of Scientific Computing, University of Heidelberg, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany

  4. 4

    Graduiertenkolleg ‘Modeling and Scientific Computing in Mathematics and Science’ University of Heidelberg, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 25 MAY 2001
  2. Article first published online: 25 MAY 2001
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 13 NOV 1995
  4. Manuscript Received: 29 DEC 1994

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Keywords:

  • nuclear topography;
  • axial tomography;
  • light microscopy

Abstract

Light microscopic axial tomography was applied to examine the position of peri- or paracentromeric chromosomal targets in nuclei of PHA-stimulated human lymphocytes following two color fluorescence in situ hybridization with DNA probes for 1q12 and 15p or 7c and 17c. Evaluation of hybridized nuclei was performed in a glass capillary device. By turning the capillary around its longitudinal axis each nucleus could be viewed at any desired angle. To measure the true three-dimensional distance between two chromosomal targets, the nucleus was turned around until both targets were positioned in the same focal plane. Similarly, the true distance between a target region and the center of the nucleus was estimated. The results provide evidence for differences in the three-dimensional nuclear distribution of the target regions. In particular, 7c was positioned more peripherally than the other chromosomal targets. Experimental data were compared with several models for a distribution of chromosomal targets under topological constraints. These models take into account spatial limitations of the distribution of the chromosome territories which harbor the hybridized targets.

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