The redistribution of a conserved nuclear envelope protein during the cell cycle suggests a pathway for chromosome condensation.

We describe a human autoantiserum that recognizes specific determinants present both on the nuclear envelope of interphase cells and the periphery of metaphase chromosomes. These determinants are highly conserved through evolution and present on a protein with an apparent molecular weight of 33,000. This 33 kd protein, which we call "perichromin," appears to be directly or indirectly bound to both interphase and metaphase DNA. Studies of the transformation of perichromin from a nuclear envelope association to a perichromosomal position during prophase suggests a pathway for chromosome organization throughout the cell cycle.