Negative silver staining in A-T and satellite DNA-rich regions of human chromosomes

Abstract

Human metaphase chromosomes were stained with silver following a pretreatment with a heated alkaline solution. The most conspicuous feature of the stained metaphases was the omission of silver staining in the secondary constrictions of chromosomes 1, 9 and 16, and on the distal Yq. Our evidence indicates that the negative silver binding is due to the preferential removal or alteration of non-histone proteins associated with these regions. The cytochemical significance of these findings is discussed.