Structure of human chromosomes studied by atomic force microscopy Part II. Relationship between structure and cytogenetic bands

In the first part of this work, human chromosomes were characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM) in air and in aqueous solution. The analysis of the images suggests that the last level of organization consists of a radial arrangement of chromatin loops which are anchored to a fiber which is folded giving a pattern of bands which differs in volume. Here the pattern of bands observed by AFM is compared to the cytogenetic map at the 850-band level. Thus thicker and thinner bands are identified as G and R bands, respectively. Finally a model is proposed which links genome sequence, cytogenetics, and chromosome structure. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.