Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Structure and replication of Phaseolus polytene chromosomes

  • Published:
Chromosoma Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The normal morphology of the polytene chromosomes of the embryo suspensor of Phaseolus coccineus is that of a tightly condensed cord with heavily Feulgen staining centromeric heterochromatic regions (α-heterochromatin) and other accessory heterochromatic regions (β-heterochromatin). The replication pattern of the chromosomes has been determined by autoradiographic analysis of material pulsed with 3H-thymidine for various lengths of time. The DNA replication cycle reqires 4–6 hours for completion. During replication chromosome structure becomes diffuse and the β-heterochromatic regions are indistinguishable from the euchromatic regions. The euchromatin is the first to replicate, and replication begins simultaneously at numerous sites in the euchromatin. The β-heterochromatin replicates next, and finally the centromeric heterochromatin. Replication is essentially complete in each of these parts of the chromosome before DNA synthesis begins in the next. The chromosomes are composed of numerous longitudinally running Feulgen positive strands, the equivalent portions of which replicate simultaneously. This indicates that there must be close control of the replication cycle in sister strands.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Avanzi, S., Cionini, P. G., D'Amato, F.: Cytochemical and autoradiographic analyses on the embryo suspensor cells of Phaseolus coccineus. Caryologia (Firenze) 23, 605–638 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Berendes, H. D.: Differential replication of male and female X-chromosomes in Drosophila. Chromosoma (Berl.) 20, 32–43 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bier, K.: Endomitose und Polytänie in den Nährzellkernen von Calliphora erythrocephala Meigen. Chromosoma (Berl.) 8, 493–522 (1957)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bier, K.: Beziehungen zwischen Wachstumsgeschwindigkeit, endometaphasischer Kontraktion und der Bildung von Riesenchromosomen in den Nährzellen von Calliphora. Z. Naturforsch. 13b, 85–93 (1958)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bier, K.: Der Karyotyp von Calliphora erythrocephala Meigen unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Nährzellkernchromosomen im gebündelten und gepaarten Zustand. Chromosoma (Berl.) 11, 335–364 (1960)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bopp, M., Capesius, I.: Markierungsmuster nach 3H-Thymidineinbau in Kernen der Hypokotylzellen von Sinapis alba L. Chromosoma (Berl.) 33, 386–395 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Brady, T.: Feulgen cytophotometric determination of the DNA content of the embryo proper and suspensor cells of Phaseolus coccineus. Cell Differentiation 2, 65–75 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Breuer, M. E., Pavan, C.: Behavior of polytene chromosomes of Rhynchosciara angelae at different stages of larval development. Chromosoma (Berl.) 7, 371–386 (1955)

    Google Scholar 

  • Darlington, C. D., Haque, A.: Organisation of DNA synthesis in rye chromosomes. Chromosomes today 1, 102–107 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans, H. J.: Uptake of 3H-thymidine and patterns of DNA replication in nuclei and chromosomes of Vicia faba. Exp. Cell Res. 35, 381–393 (1964)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ficq, A., Pavan, C.: Autoradiography of polytene chromosomes of Rhynchosciara angelae at different stages of larval development. Nature (Lond.) 180, 983–984 (1957)

    Google Scholar 

  • Flax, M. H., Himes, M.: Microspectrophotometric analysis of metachromatic staining of nucleic acids. Physiol. Zool. 25, 297 (1952)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gabrusewycz-Garcia, N.: Cytological and autoradiographic studies in Sciara coprophila salivary gland chromosomes. Chromosoma (Berl.) 15, 312–344 (1964)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gall, J. G., Cohen, E. H., Polan, M. L.: Repetitive DNA sequences in Drosophila. Chromosoma (Berl.) 33, 91–138 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Geitler, L.: Endomitose und endomitotische Polyploidisierung. Protoplasmatologie VI/C. Wien: Springer 1953

    Google Scholar 

  • Heitz, E.: Über α- und β-Heterochromatin sowie Konstanz und Bau der Chromomeren bei Drosophila. Biol. Zbl. 54, 588–609 (1934)

    Google Scholar 

  • Howard, E. F., Plaut, W.: Chromosomal DNA synthesis in Drosophila melanogaster. J. Cell Biol. 39, 415–429 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacob, J., Brenner, S.: Sur la régulation de la synthèse du DNA chez les bactéries. L'hypothèse du replicon. C. R. Acad. Sci. (Paris) 256, 298–311 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • Keyl, H. G., Pelling, C.: Differentielle DNS-Replikation in den Speicheldrüsen Chromosomen von Chironomus thummi. Chromosoma (Berl.) 14, 347–359 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuriowa, T., Tanaka, N.: DNA replication patterns in somatic chromosomes of Crepis capillaris. Cytologia (Tokyo) 35, 271–279 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kusanagi, A.: Rate of DNA replication in the DNA synthetic period of the barley chromosomes. Chromosoma (Berl.) 20, 125–132 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lillie, R. D.: Simplification of the manufacture of Schiff reagent for use in histochemical procedures. Stain Technol. 26, 163–165 (1951)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lima-de-Faria, A.: Differential uptake of tritiated thymidine into hetero- and euchromatin in Melanoplus and Secale. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol. 6, 457–466 (1959)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nagl, W.: 4096-Ploidie und „Riesenchromosomen“ im Suspensor von Phaseolus coccineus. Naturwissenschaften 49, 261–262 (1962)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nagl, W.: Die SAT-Riesenchromosomen der Kerne des Suspensors von Phaseolus coccineus und ihr Verhalten während der Endomitose. Chromosoma (Berl.) 16, 511–520 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nagl, W.: Puffing of polytene chromosomes in a plant (Phaseolus vulgaris). Naturwissenschaften 56, 221–222 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nagl, W.: Differentielle RNS-Synthese an pflanzlichen Riesenohromosomen. Ber. Dtsch. Bot. Ges. 83, 301–309 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nash, D., Bell, J.: Larval age and the pattern of DNA synthesis in polytene chromosomes. Canad. J. Genet. Cytol. 10, 82–90 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pelc, S. R., La Cour, L. F.: Some aspects of replication in chromosomes. In: The cell nucleus (J. S. Mitchell, ed.), p. 232–237. London: Butterworths Scient. Publications, 1960

    Google Scholar 

  • Plaut, W.: On the replicative organization of DNA in the polytene chromosomes of Drosophila melanogaster. J. molec. Biol. 7, 632–635 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • Plaut, W., Nash, D., Fanning, T.: Ordered replication of DNA in polytene chromosomes of Drosophila melanogaster. J. molec. Biol. 16, 85–93 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodman, T. C.: DNA replication in salivary gland nuclei of Drosophila melanogaster at successive larval and prepupal stages. Genetics 55, 375–386 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodman, T. C.: Relationship of developmental stage to initiation of replication in polytene nuclei. Chromosoma (Berl.) 23, 271–287 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Swift, H.: Nucleic acids and cell morphology in Dipteran salivary glands. In: The molecular control of cellular activity (J. M. Allen, ed.), p. 73–125. NewYork: McGraw-Hill 1962

    Google Scholar 

  • Walbot, V., Brady, T., Clutter, M., Sussex, I.: Macromolecular synthesis during embryogeny: Rates of RNA synthesis in Phaseolus coccineus embryos and suspensors. Develop. Biol. 29, 104–111 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • White, P.: The cultivation of animal and plant cells. New York: Ronald Press Company 1954

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Osborn Memorial Laboratories, Biology Department, Yale University, New Haven

    Tom Brady & Mary E. Clutter

  2. Department of Genetics Faculty of Science, University of Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    Tom Brady

Authors
  1. Tom Brady
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mary E. Clutter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Brady, T., Clutter, M.E. Structure and replication of Phaseolus polytene chromosomes. Chromosoma 45, 63–79 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00283830

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00283830

Keywords

Search

Navigation