No.8（2005）9.Visualization of Specific Genes in the Fine Structures of Chromosomes

Yasuhito KINJO, Motoko KOYAMA, Noriyuki MIYAZAKI, Motoharu SHICHIRI, Tomoyuki YOSHINO, Toshio OHTANI

As a milestone to investigate the relationship between gene expression and the local fine structures of a chromosome or chromatin in a nucleus where the genes are located, nano FISH technique that utilizes a scanning near-field optical/atomic force microscope (SNOM/AFM) was applied to human chromosomes hybridized with fluorophore-labeled p53 gene probe following moderate decondensation of the chromosomes. Signals from the probe and fine structures of the chromosomes were imaged simultaneously using SNOM/AFM. The data suggest that the technique may applicable to the research field regarding the relationship between fine structures of chromosome/chromatin and gene expression including the study on the mechanisms of malignant transformation of cells.

Keywords

Gene expression, Chromosome, Chromatin, Fine structure, p53, Nano FISH, SNOM/AFM

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