Replication of centromeric heterochromatin in mouse fibroblasts takes place in early, middle, and late S phase

The replication of eukaryotic chromosomes takes place throughout S phase, but little is known how this process is organized in space and time. Early and late replicating chromosomal domains appear to localize to distinct spatial compartments of the nucleus where DNA synthesis can take place at defin...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Histochemistry and cell biology 2006-01, Vol.125 (1-2), p.91-102
Main Authors: Weidtkamp-Peters, Stefanie, Rahn, Hans-Peter, Cardoso, M Cristina, Hemmerich, Peter
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
3T3 Cells
Animals
Cell Nucleus - ultrastructure
Centromere - physiology
Centromere - ultrastructure
DNA Replication - genetics
Fibroblasts - metabolism
Fibroblasts - ultrastructure
Fluorescent Antibody Technique
Heterochromatin - physiology
Heterochromatin - ultrastructure
Kinetochores - physiology
Kinetochores - ultrastructure
Mice
Microscopy, Fluorescence
Mitosis - physiology
Plasmids - genetics
S Phase - physiology
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Summary:The replication of eukaryotic chromosomes takes place throughout S phase, but little is known how this process is organized in space and time. Early and late replicating chromosomal domains appear to localize to distinct spatial compartments of the nucleus where DNA synthesis can take place at defined times during S phase. In general, transcriptionally active chromatin replicates early in S phase whereas transcriptionally inactive chromatin replicates later. Here we provide evidence for significant deviation from this dogma in mouse NIH3T3 cells. While the bulk pericentromeric heterochromatin replicates exclusively during mid to late S phase, centromeric DNA domains associated with constitutive kinetochore proteins are replicated throughout all stages of S phase. On an average, 12+/-4% of centromeres replicate in early S phase. Early replication of a subset of centromeres was also detected in living C2C12 murine cells. Thus, in contrast to expectation, late replication is not an obligatory feature of centromeric heterochromatin in murine cells and it does not determine their 'heterochromatic state'.
ISSN:0948-6143
1432-119X
DOI:10.1007/s00418-005-0063-3