Reversible and irreversible unfolding of eukaryote chromosomes by force

Author

Marko, John F. ; Poirier, M. ; Eroglu, Sertac ; Chatenay, Didier

Author_Institution

Dept. of Phys., Illinois Univ., Chicago, IL, USA

Volume

1

fYear

1999

fDate

1999

Abstract

We have carried out studies of metaphase chromosomes in primary explant cultures of newt lung epithelia, using in situ microsurgery and force measurement. The chromosomes are elastic over a five-fold range of extension, with a force constant of about one nanonewton (nN). For larger extensions, chromosomes are permanently elongated; if stretched beyond 30 times, their cross-sectional diameter is increased after relaxation. Fluorescence studies indicate that histone proteins are not being removed. We conclude that we are first unfolding and then breaking chromosome-folding proteins by extension

Keywords

DNA; biological techniques; biomechanics; cellular biophysics; elasticity; fluorescence; force measurement; lung; proteins; breaking by extension; cell division; chromosome-folding proteins; elasticity; eukaryote chromosomes; fluorescence; force hysteresis; force measurement; histone antibodies; in situ microsurgery; irreversible unfolding; metaphase chromosomes; micromanipulation; newt lung epithelia; permanently elongated; primary explant cultures; reversible unfolding; unfolding by force; Biological cells; Biomedical engineering; Cells (biology); DNA; Elasticity; Electromigration; Frequency; Instruments; Low-frequency noise; Lungs; Microsurgery; Noise measurement; Performance analysis; Proteins; Signal analysis; Stress; Surgery; Temperature sensors; Testing;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

[Engineering in Medicine and Biology, 1999. 21st Annual Conference and the 1999 Annual Fall Meetring of the Biomedical Engineering Society] BMES/EMBS Conference, 1999. Proceedings of the First Joint

Conference_Location

Atlanta, GA

ISSN

1094-687X

Print_ISBN

0-7803-5674-8

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/IEMBS.1999.802114

Filename

802114