Guanine Residues In DNA Research Articles

Mutational specificity of the carcinogen 3-amino-1-methyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]-indole in mammalian cells

We have used the pZipHprtNeo shuttle vector to determine the types of DNA sequence alterations induced by a potent carcinogen 3-amino-1-methyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole (Trp-P2). The shuttle vector contains a human cDNA hprt as the target gene and is stably integrated into a chromosome of the mouse cell line VH12. After Trp-P2 treatment, 59 independent HPRT- mutant clones of VH12 were isolated and altered sequences of the mutant hprt- cDNA genes were determined. Mutations induced by Trp-P2 comprised a variety of events; base substitutions, frameshifts, deletions and complex. Frameshifts were the most frequent mutational events (51%), and base substitutions were the next most frequent (30%) followed by deletions (14%). Examination of the DNA sequence context in the mutant genes revealed that approximately 70% of mutations induced by Trp-P2 occurred at G:C sites and thymine residues were the suggested target for the remainder of mutations. The results seem consistent with the previously reported finding that in vivo, metabolically activated Trp-P2 specifically binds to the C8 position of guanine residues in DNA to form C8G-Trp-P2 adducts (Hashimoto et al., Mutat, Res., 105, 9-13, 1982). As for molecular mechanisms, we showed that slippage and slippage misalignment could predict the generation of a large portion of Trp-P2-induced mutations found in the cDNA gene.

Single adduct mutagenesis: strong effect of the position of a single acetylaminofluorene adduct within a mutation hot spot.

2-Acetylaminofluorene (AAF), a potent rat liver carcinogen that binds covalently to the C-8 position of guanine residues in DNA, is an effective frameshift mutagen. The mutations are distributed nonrandomly, in that most are located at a few specific DNA sequences (i.e., mutation hot spots). Among these hot spots, the Nar I sequence (GGCGCC) is especially susceptible to the induction of -2 frameshift mutations (GGCGCC----GGCC). Due to the nature of the Nar I sequence, G1G2CG3CC, three different molecular events, each involving the deletion of two contiguous base pairs (i.e., G2C, CG3, G3C), can give rise to the observed end point (GGCC). To compare the potential role of each of the three possible guanine-AAF adducts in the Nar I site to induce the -2 frameshift mutation, we constructed double-stranded plasmid molecules containing a single-AAF adduct bound to one of the three guanine positions. Using these plasmids, we found that only the adduct in the G3 position induces the -2 frameshift mutation. This strong effect of the position of the -AAF adduct within the Nar I site is discussed in relation to the possible involvement of an unusual DNA conformation in the mutagenic processing.

Formation of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine in DNA treated with fecapentaene- 12 and -14

Fecapentaene-12 and -14, direct-acting mutagens in human feces, were found to hydroxylate the C-8 position of guanine residues in DNA in vitro. Fecapentaene-12 or -14 was incubated with 0.5 mg of calf thymus DNA in 1 ml of reaction mixture at pH 7.4 for 2 h at 37°C in the dark, and then 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG) was analyzed. In these conditions 8-OH-dG was formed dose-dependently at levels of 1.1–4.6 residues/10 4 dG with concentrations of 0.5–3.0 mM of fecapentaene-12. Similar results were obtained with fecapentaene-14. The amount of 8-OH-dG in untreated DNA was 0.2–0.3 residue/10 4 dG.

Nucleic acid binding and mutagenicity of active metabolites of 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-ƒ]quinoxaline

2-Amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-ƒ]quinoxaline (MeIQx) is a potent mutagen and carcinogen present in heated foodstuffs. The covalent binding of MeIQx to calf thymus DNA and calf liver RNA with microsomal activation was demonstrated. A major metabolite which exerts a direct mutagenic effect on S. typhimurium TA98 was found by HPLC analysis after incubation of MeIQx with rat liver microsomal fraction. The metabolite was identified as 2-hydroxyamino-3,8-dimethylimidazol[4,5-ƒ]quinoxaline (N- OH-MeIQx). Synthetic N-OH-MeIQx was found to bind non-enzymatically to DNA and RNA at neutral pH even at 0°C. Addition of acetic anhydride increased the binding of N-OH-MeIQx to DNA 10 times. These results suggest that MeIQx is metabolized to N-OH-MeIQx by microsomal cytochrome P-450 and further activated to an acetylated form that binds efficiently to nucleic acids in rat liver. Preferential modification of polyguanylic acid suggests that guanine residues of DNA are mainly modified with MeIQx. Synthetic N-OH-MeIQx exerted direct mutagenic activity on S. typhimurium TA98 inducing 150 000 rev/μg. Pentachlorophenol (PCP) caused a dose-dependent inhibition of this mutagenic effect, but 2,6-dichloro-4-nitrophenol (DCNP) did not. Thus the acetyltransferase of S. typhimurium seems to be important for the high mutagenicity of MeIQx after its microsomal activation.

Carcinogenesis and nucleic acid alkylation by some oxygenated nitrosamines in rats and hamsters

A comparison has been made of the carcinogenic effects of nitroso-2,6-dimethylmorpholine and several hydroxylated acyclic nitrosodialkylamines derived from it or related to it in rats and Syrian hamsters. In rats nitrosodimethylmorpholine was the most potent, inducing mainly esophageal tumors. Nitrosodiethanolamine was the weakest of the five nitrosamines in both rats and hamsters. Tumors of the pancreas ducts were induced by four of the five compounds, but only in hamsters, and esophageal tumors appeared only in rats. Most of the nitrosamines induced tumors of liver and lung in both rats and hamsters. A study of alkylation of nucleic acids of the liver following treatment of rats and hamsters with the radiolabeled nitrosamines showed that nitrosodiethanolamine alkylated liver nucleic acids in rats to only a very small extent. The other four nitrosamines all gave rise to 7-methylation and O 6-methylation of guanine residues in DNA of hamster liver and all but nitrosodimethylmorpholine in rat liver DNA, which corresponded quite well with the induction of liver tumors in the two species. Quantitatively, however, there was not a good correlation between liver DNA alkylation and the potency of the nitrosamine in inducing tumors.

Activating mutations in human c-Ha-ras-1 gene induced by reactive derivatives of safrole and the glutamic pyrolysis product, Glu-P-3.

Foci of transformed NIH3T3 cells were observed after transfection of plasmids containing the c-Ha-ras-1 protooncogene modified in vitro either with the 3-N,N-acetoxyacetyl derivative (N-AcO-AGlu-P-3) of the mutagenic L-glutamic acid pyrolysis product 3-amino-4,6-dimethyldipyrido-[1,2-a:3',2'-d]imidazole (Glu-P-3) or with 1'-acetoxysafrole (AcO-S), a reactive derivative of the carcinogen safrole. DNA isolated from these foci were used in a second round of transfection, and the DNA obtained from the secondary transformants was analysed to determine the nature of mutations responsible for activating the protooncogene. The polymerase chain reaction method was used to amplify sequences of the gene likely to contain activating mutations, and these regions were then subjected to selective hybridization with specific oligonucleotides to locate and identify the point mutations. Five out of six transformants induced by N-AcO-AGlu-P-3 contained mutations at codon 61. Three of the codon 61 mutations were at the first base and the other two were at the third base, all were GC----TA transversions. Two AcO-S-induced transformants contained a GC----TA transversion, in one case at the first base of codon 61, in the other at the first base of codon 12. Another AcO-S-induced transformant, and the sixth transformant induced by N-AcO-AGlu-P-3 were apparently not mutated in codon 12, 61 or 117. Both N-AcO-AGlu-P-3 and AcO-S react predominantly with guanine residues in DNA, and all the mutations identified here were at GC base pairs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Structural studies of O6-methyldeoxyguanosine and related compounds: a promutagenic DNA lesion by methylating carcinogens.

O6-Methylation of guanine residues in DNA can induce mutations by formation of base mispairing due to the deprotonation of N(1). The electronic, geometric and conformational properties of three N(9)-Substituted O6-methylguanine derivatives, O6-methyldeoxyguanosine (O6mdGuo), O6-methylguanosine (O6mGuo) and O6, 9-dimethylguanine (O6mdGua), were investigated by X-ray and/or NMR studies. O6mdGuo crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1) with cell parameters a = 5.267(1), b = 19.109(2), c = 12.330(2) A, beta = 92.45(1) degrees, V = 1239.8(3) A3, z = 4 (two nucleosides per asymmetric unit), and O6mGua in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/n with cell parameters a = 10.729(2), b = 7.640(1) c = 10.216(1) A, beta = 92.17(2) degrees, V = 836.7(2) A3, z = 4. The geometry and conformation of O6-methylguanine moieties observed in both crystals and are very similar. Furthermore, the molecular dimensions of the O6methylguanine residue resemble more closely those of adenine than those of guanine. The methoxy group is coplanar with the purine ring, the methyl group being cis to N(1). The conformation of O6-methylguanine nucleosides is variable. The glycosidic conformation of O6mdGuo is anti for molecule (a) and high-anti for molecule (b) in the crystal, while that of O6mGuo is syn [Parthasarathy, R & Fridey, S. M. (1986) Carcinogenesis 7, 221-227]. The sugar ring pucker of O6mdGuo is C(2')-endo for molecule (a) and C(1')-exo for molecule (b). The C(4')-C(5') exocyclic bond conformation in O6mdGuo is gauche- for molecule (a) but trans for molecule (b), in contrast with gauche+ for O6mGuo. The hydrogen bonds exhibited by O6-methylguanine derivatives differ from those in guanine derivatives; the amino N(2) and ring N(3) and N(7) atoms of O6-methylguanine residues are involved in hydrogen bonding. 1H-NMR data for O6mdGuo and O6mdGuo reveal the predominance of a C(2')-endo type sugar puckering. In O6mdGuo, however, a contribution of a C(1')-exo sugar puckering is significant. The NOE data also indicate that O6mdGuo molecules exist with nearly equal population for anti (including high anti) and syn glycosidic conformations. These observations and their biological implications are discussed.

Site-specific gap-misrepair mutagenesis by O4-ethylthymine

The mutagenicity of the DNA base O-alkylation adduct, O 4-ethylthymine, specifically incorporated into the plasmid vector pUC8 at the unique SalI and HincII recognition sites, was studied in vivo. Escherichia coli, Micrococcus luteus and AMV DNA polymerases catalyze the incorporation of O 4-ethylTMP against template adenine and guanine residues, resulting in DNA sequence alteration during subsequent replication in the host E. coli K-12 strain JM83. The greatest mutation frequency was observed with error-prone AMV DNA polymerase. High levels of cognate restriction endonuclease-resistant mutant plasmid isolates were obtained by gap replication repair in the presence of O 4-ethylTTP. The yields of mutant isolates were dependent upon the relative concentration of the competing pyrimidine deoxynucleoside triphosphates, TTP and dCTP, in the misreplication reaction. Repair of incorporated O 4-ethyITMP of plasmid DNA by in vitro treatment with specific alkyltransferase, prior to transformation in the host, effectively increases the mutagenic efficiency of the adduct. The results obtained are consistent with the high miscoding potential O 4-ethylthymine observed in in vitro studies and its ability to base-pair with noncomplementary guanine residues in DNA.

Identification and localization of photoalkylated bases in DNA fragments.

Abstract— Antibodies directed toward 8‐(2‐hydroxy‐2‐propyI)‐deoxyguanosine‐5′‐monophosphate (8‐hpdGMP), a product of the photoalkylation of deoxyguanosine‐5‘‐monophosphate with 2‐propanol, were shown to be highly specific and sensitive in detecting 8‐hpdGMP residues in photoalkylated DNA.The antibodies were further used to determine the distribution of modified guanine residues in DNA. The irradiated DNA was digested with restriction enzymes and the fragments obtained were separated electrophoretically and blotted onto diazotized paper. The covalently bound DNA fragments were probed with the antibodies and then with 125I Staphylococcus aureus protein A. These experiments indicate a non‐random distribution of modified guanine residues in øX174 RF DNA molecules.

Conformation of O6-alkylguanosines: molecular mechanism of mutagenesis.

The O6-alkylation of guanine residues in DNA treated with alkylating agents induce mutations due to mis-pairing resulting from the deprotonation of N1. In addition to the deprotonation of N1, the conformation of the O6-alkyl group with respect to N7 of guanine is very important. Here, we present X-ray crystallographic evidence that shows that the methyl group in O6-methylguanosine has a preference for the distal conformation, blocking the Watson-Crick sites. This distal conformation persists in the solid state for several analogs of O6-alkylguanosine also. This preferred conformation agrees with the result that poly(O6-methyl GMP) does not form any stable complex with poly(U). However, the mispairing of O6-methylguanine with thymine and the resultant G----A transition is known from in vitro studies. The above two opposite results strongly indicate that the conformation of the O6-alkyl group and the base pairing properties of O6-alkylguanine at the monomer and polymer levels must be different from the situation when the modified base is embedded with a small frequency in a duplex. It is interesting to note that the sterical blocking of the Watson-Crick site at the monomer level and the altered base pairing properties when present as occasional bases in a duplex emerge as a common property for several mutagenic bases like O6-alkylguanines, O4-methyluracil and N4-hydroxycytosine.

Sequence context effects in DNA replication blocks induced by aflatoxin B1.

The genotoxic effects of the potent mutagenic carcinogen aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) are believed to be mediated by its reaction with the N-7 atom of guanine residues in DNA. We have analyzed the effect of AFB1-induced chemical modification on the template function of single-stranded DNA in vitro. The experimental strategy involves the elongation of a primer on a modified template by Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I (large fragment) and analysis of the products by high-resolution gel electrophoresis. Our data show that (i) AFB1 induces specific replication blocks one nucleotide 3' to the sites of occurrence of guanine residues on template DNA; (ii) AFB1-induced replication blocks occur predominantly at sequences capable of participation in intrastrand base pairing; (iii) within the intrastrand base-paired regions there are strong sequence context effects, in accordance with the previously described [Muench, K. F., Misra, R. P. & Humayun, M. Z. (1983) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 80, 6-10] specificity "rules" that apply to the reaction of AFB1 with guanine residues in double-stranded DNA; (iv) there is evidence that the (7-guanyl)-AFB1 adducts as well as secondary derivatives such as the formamidopyrimidine-AFB1 act as replication blocks. In summary, these data suggest that previously observed inhibition of DNA replication and transcription by AFB1 is directly attributable to (7-guanyl)-AFB1 adducts or their secondary reaction products.

Reaction of DNA with a mutagenic 3-N,N-acetoxyacetylamino-4,6-dimethyldipyrido[1,2-a:3',2'- d]imidazole (N-AcO-AGlu-P-3) related to glutamic acid pyrolysates.

3-Amino-4,6-dimethyldipyrido[1,2-a:3',2'-d]imidazole (Glu-P-3), an analog amine of the potent genotoxic Glu-P-1 isolated from a glutamic acid pyrolysate, has been chemically synthesized. Glu-P-3 was found much more mutagenic than Glu-P-1 to S. typhimurium TA 98 and TA 100 with S-9 mix. 3-N,N-acetoxyacetylamino-4,6-dimethyldipyrido[1,2-a:3',2'-d] imidazole (N-AcO-AGlu-P-3), a possible metabolite of Glu-P-3, binds covalently to the C-8 position of guanine residues in DNA. The binding induces large conformational changes of the macromolecule.

Hydroxylation of deoxyguanosine at the C-8 position by ascorbic acid and other reducing agents.

The C-8 position of deoxyguanosine (dGuo) was hydroxylated by ascorbic acid in the presence of oxygen (O2) in 0.1 M phosphate buffer (pH 6.8) at 37 degrees C. Addition of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) remarkably enhanced this hydroxylation. The Udenfriend system [ascorbic acid, FeII, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and O2] was also effective for hydroxylation of dGuo in high yield. Guanine residues in DNA were also hydroxylated by ascorbic acid. Other reducing agents, such as hydroxylamine, hydrazine, dihydroxymaleic acid, sodium bisulfite and acetol, were also effective for the hydroxylation reaction, as were metal-EDTA complexes (FeII-, SnII-, TiIII-, CuI-EDTA). An OH radical seemed to be involved in this hydroxylation reaction in most of the above hydroxylating systems, but another reaction mechanism may also be involved, particularly when dGuo is hydroxylated by ascorbic acid alone or ascorbic acid plus H2O2. The possible biological significance of the hydroxylation of guanine residues in DNA in relation to mutagenesis and carcinogenesis is discussed.

Sequence selective modification of DNA with muta-carcinogenic 2-amino-6-methyldipyrido[1,2-a:3′,2′-d]imidazole

2-Acetoxyamino-6-methyldipyrido[1,2-a:3',2'-d]imidazole binds covalently to the 8 position of guanine residues in DNA. Treatment of the modified DNA with aqueous piperidine causes the liberation of the modified nucleic acid base, 2-(C8-guanyl)amino-6-methyldipyrido[1,2-a:3',2'-d]imidazole, and cleavage of DNA at the sites of the modified guanylic acid residues. By use of 5'-end 32P-labelled DNA and sequence analysing gel electrophoresis, we discovered the base sequence specificity of DNA modification with 2-acetoxyamino-6-methyldipyrido[1,2-a:3',2'-d]imidazole. The guanine residues in G-C cluster-like regions are modified more frequently.

Mutagenicities of glycidyl ethers for Salmonella typhimurium: Relationship between mutagenic potencies and chemical reactivity

The lethal and mutagenic effects of ethyl, benzyl, 1-naphthylmethyl, 2-naphthylmethyl, 1-naphthylethyl, 2-naphthylethyl and 9-anthrylmethyl glycidyl ethers on Salmonella typhimurium (TA100, TA1535, TA98 and TA1538) were investigated. LD 30-value became smaller with an increase in compound hydrophobicity. The mutagenicities of these compounds in TA100 increased in the order: 1-naphthylethyl glycidyl ether<2-naphthylethyl glycidyl ether<benzyl glycidyl ether<2-naphthylmethyl glycidyl ether<1-naphthylmethyl glycidyl ether<9-anthrylmethyl glycidyl ether. 1-Naphthylmethyl and 2-naphthylmethyl glycidyl ethers were mutagenic toward TA1535. In TA98, 1-naphthylmethyl and 9-anthrylmethyl glycidyl ethers showed mutagenic activity and 9-anthrylmethyl glycidyl ether was more mutagenic than 1-naphthylmethyl glycidyl ether. 9-Anthrylmethyl glycidyl ether was also active in TA1538. In the reaction of glycidyl ethers with deoxyguanosine and related compounds, glycidyl ethers attacked at only N-7 of guanine. The alkylation rates of glycidyl ethers toward guanine residues in DNA were determined and the exciplex-formation ability of 7-substituted guanines was studied. The reactivity of glycidyl ethers with guanine residues in DNA has not provided a sufficient explanation for the variation in mutagenic potencies of glycidyl ethers.

Ultraviolet difference spectral study of the interaction of DNA with platinum complexes

Ultraviolet difference spectral data provided useful information to differentiate the binding modes between antitumor-active and -inactive platinum complexes. The uv difference spectra for the DNA samples treated with platinum complexes exhibit a band at 295 nm due to the change in electron distribution of nucleic acid bases and a band at 270 nm due to the change in the secondary structure of DNA. The absorption ratio, ΔA 270/ΔA 295, is an index for the change of the secondary structure of DNA induced by binding with platinum. Changes in the DNA secondary structure induced by antitumor-active platinum complexes are greater than those induced by antitumor-inactive platinum complexes, and the uv difference spectral behavior of antitumor-active platinum complexes is similar. A tendency for preferential binding toward the guanine residues in DNA was confirmed in this study. Melting profiles for the DNA samples treated with platinum complexes showed a decrease in hyperchromicity and a broadening of transition width. The platinum complexes, other than trans-Pt(NH 3) 2Cl 2, decreased the melting temperature.

Immunofluorescence for the detection of photochemical lesions in intracellular DNA

The ability of methylene blue to photooxidize the guanine moiety of intracellular DNA of living human cells was demonstrated by immunofluorescence using an antibody with a specificity for the unpaired cytosine residue of DNA. These findings which indicate that sufficient amounts of the dye penetrate the mammalian cell to cause biological effects may present the investigator with the unique opportunity of selectively altering the guanine residue in DNA and thereby determining the genetic consequences of this reaction.

DNA-copper (II) complex and the DNA conformation.

AbstractSpectrophotometric, sedimentation, infrared, optical rotatory dispersion (ORD), and circular dichroism (CD) methods have been used to demonstrate the structural changes in DNA induced by the interaction of copper(II) with bases and to elucidate the complex binding sites. As shown by the electrolyte‐induced reversion (addition of salts) of temperature‐denatured copper DNA the effectiveness of re‐formation of the double‐stranded structure depends on the temperature, copper(II) ion concentration, and on the base composition of the DNA. Exposure of heat‐denatured copper DNA to higher temperatures decreases the reversion effect on addition of electrolyte. The results indicate that a greater fraction with a cooperative transition appears on heating DNA to 80 or 100°C at a Cu2+/DNA‐P ratio of 2 : 1 than at a Cu2+/DNA‐P ratio of 1 : 1. With AT‐rich copper DNA, reversion to the native DNA structure was not observed. Selective methylation of guanine residues in DNA also affects the electrolyte‐induced reversion, indicating the importance of GC pairs for copper(II) binding and the reversion to the native structure. Temperature‐denatured copper DNA shows an increased sedimentation coefficient Which decreases again after electrolyte‐induced reversion. This change in s is reduced by selective methylation of DNA. Complex formation between copper(II) and the bases is accompanied by a conformational change of the DNA double‐helical structure as demonstrated by ORD and CD experiments. The ORD profile of GC‐rich DNA is much more affected by copper(II) than that of AT‐rich ones. Even at very low copper(II) concentrations, e.g., at 0.02 and 0.2 Cu2+/DNA‐P, the ORD and CD measurements exhibit conformational changes of the DNA secondary structure at room temperature. By comparing the infrared spectra of deoxynucleosides with that of DNA of different GC content it has been shown that both guanine and cytosine are involved in the formation of the complex of copper(II) with DNA. N‐7 and O at C‐6 in guanine and N‐3 as well as O of C‐2 in cytosine are discussed as the most probable binding sites in DNA. A binding model for the coordination of the copper(II) ion between guanine and cytosine of the opposite strands is suggested. The results are in good agreement with the assumptions and predictions made by Eichhorn and Clark about the complexing of copper(II) with DNA. The recent proposal made by Schreiber and Daune about an interaction of the type guanine–Cu2+–guanine cannot be excluded as an additional kind of coordination of copper(II) in DNA.

Novel assay of 7-alkylation of guanine residues in DNA: Application to nitrogen mustard, triethylenemelamine and mitomycin C

Release of tritium from DNA labeled at the 8-position of guanine residues was used as a test for the interaction of DNA with the bifunctional nitrogen mustard, methyl-(bis-β-chloroethyl)amine, the synthetic mutagen triethylenemelamine and the antibiotic mitomycin C. This method seems to offer a diagnostic and quantitative assay of 7-alkylation of guanine residues since alkylation experiments with nitrogen mustard showed a stoichiometric correspondence between the amount of guanine alkylated and the amount of tritium released into the medium. Triethylenemelamine caused substantial release of tritium. There was no detectable tritium release with mitomycin C under the optimal conditions for covalent binding of the drug to DNA in vitro. This finding indicates that, contrary to earlier suggestion, mitomycin C does not alkylate the N-7 position of guanine residues in DNA.

Identification of human chromosomes by DNA-binding fluorescent agents

The distribution of DNA along metaphase chromosomes that are not excessively contracted can be visualized in the fluorescence microscope with the aid of fluorescent DNA-binding agents. Additional, characteristic details in the fluorescence patterns are obtained with fluorochromes that bind preferentially to certain chromosomal regions. The highly fluorescent alkylating agent quinacrine mustard (QM) effects discrete, fluorescent labeling of both plant and mammalian metaphase chromosomes, presumably by selective binding to guanine residues in DNA, and is also capable of intercalation in the DNA double helix. Chromosome regions fluorescing particularly strongly with QM have been demonstrated in human metaphase chromosomes 3, 13–15 and Y. A convenient measuring technique has been developed for the rapid and accurate recording of fluorescence patterns in human metaphase chromosomes. These photoelectric recordings of the fluorescence patterns contain far greater detail than can be seen by the human eye. The fluorescence patterns described are based on measurements of about 1,000 human metaphase chromosomes. This new technique of determining fluorescence patterns in human chromosomes should be particularly valuable for the identification of chromosomes 4–5 and the individual types in the 6–12 group. Individual, typical patterns also occur within the groups 13–15, 17–18, and 21–22.