Disassembly of the mammalian metaphase chromosome into its subunits: studies with ultraviolet light and repair synthesis inhibitors.

Metaphase chromosomes of a simian virus-transformed Indian muntjac cell line have been examined by scanning electron microscopy of material in which the fully packed metaphase structure is progressively relaxed. Such chromosomes are seen in standard, spread preparations of ultraviolet light-irradiated, metaphase-arrested cells, which have been incubated in the presence of inhibitors of DNA synthesis; they are processed for electron microscopy by trypsinization, further fixation and osmium impregnation. Decondensation is initially associated with a gradual elongation and loosening of the chromosome axis and, as loosening proceeds, the appearance of unexpected higher order structures--clusters of 20-40 nm diameter fibres. The arrangement of the clusters shows much variation between spreads. In the most fully extended chromosomes clusters are arranged in two longitudinal series with pairing between sister chromatids; the diameter of the majority of clusters in such chromosomes is in the range 0.4-0.6 micron. In the final stages of decondensation, clusters separate and individual chromosomes are no longer recognizable. Similar fibre clusters are found in interphase nuclei prepared by the same method. We suggest that the clusters of chromatin fibres may assemble as intermediates in the construction of an axial structure, which is further compacted in the fully condensed metaphase chromosome.