Polytene Chromosomes

Igor F Zhimulev, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Novosibirsk, Russia
Dmitry E Koryakov, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Novosibirsk, Russia

Published online: March 2009

DOI: 10.1002/9780470015902.a0001183.pub2

Polytene chromosomes are specific interphase chromosomes consisting of thousands of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) strands. For this reason they are very large and display a characteristic band–interband morphology. Polyteny arises in tissues, organs and at developmental stages when there is need for the rapid development of an organ at an unaltered high level of function. Organs containing cells with polytene chromosomes are, as a rule, involved in intense secretory functions accomplished during a short time against a background of rapid growth. Chromosome rearrangements and in situ hybridization on polytene chromosomes allow genes to be mapped to a resolution of a few tens of kilobases. Polytene chromosomes allow a specific narrow region to be dissected out with a micromanipulator and a library of DNA clones to be derived from the region.

Key concepts:

  • Polytene chromosomes are specific type of interphase chromosomes consisting of thousands of DNA strands.
  • Polytene chromosomes have been found in many tissues of the representatives of two orders of insects: Diptera and Collembola, in the macronuclear anlagen of Infusoria, in certain organs and tissues of mammals and also in the cells of the synergids, antipods and endosperm of angiospermous plants.
  • Polyteny arises in tissues, organs and at developmental stages when there is need for the rapid development of an organ at an unaltered high level of function. Organs containing cells with polytene chromosomes are, as a rule, involved in intense secretory functions accomplished during a short time against a background of rapid growth.
  • Along the linear axis polytene chromosome have variation in the concentration of the chromatin. Regions of high concentrations are known as chromomeres (bands), and regions with low concentrations are known as interchromomeres (interbands).
  • The pattern of bands and interbands in each polytene chromosome is specific for the species, and in general is characteristic of that particular chromosome in different tissues or at different developmental stages.
  • Polytene chromosomes are now considered to be very important objects for the analysis of numerous features of interphase chromosome organization and the genome as a whole.

Keywords: genes; puffs; bands; interbands; heterochromatin

Figure 1. First drawings of polytene chromosome made by Balbiani in (1881) (a) and (1890) (b). (a) Salivary gland cells of Chironomus plumosus and (b) Macronucleus (anlagen?) of Loxophyllum meleagris.
Figure 2. Drawing of a polytene chromosome set of Drosophila melanogaster. The chromosomes have been spread out by squashing them on a microscopic slide. Each parental chromosome is tightly paired with its homologue (somatic synapsis). There are regions where two homologous chromosomes are separated (asynapsis). All the chromosomes are linked together by the pericentromeric regions to create a single chromocentre. In the left lower corner mitotic chromosomes from ovarian tissue are shown at the same magnification. From Painter T (1934) Salivary chromosomes and the attack on the gene. Journal of Heredity 25: 465–476.
Figure 3. Arrangement and degree of conjugation of chromatids in classic polytene chromosomes (a), cryptic polyteny (b) and pompon-like chromosomes (c). (a) Individual chromatids with chromomeres (shown as black rectangles) contact each other tightly, the chromomeres forming bands. (b) The chromatids contact each other only in some of the chromomeres, forming a broom-like structure. (c) The conjugation of the chromatids is completely disturbed and a ‘pompon’ is formed. Open circles indicate the centromeric region.
Figure 4. The polytene chromosome set of Chironomus thummi. The chromosomes of this species lie separately from each other; they do not have a common chromocentre. BR, Balbiani rings; NU, nucleolus; CEN, pericentromeric regions. Courtesy of LI Gunderina, unpublished.
Figure 5. Electron microscopic view of part of the 3R chromosome of Drosophila melanogaster. Polytene chromosome bands and interbands are seen as black and white transverse stripes. Courtesy of VF Semeshin, unpublished.
Figure 6. Electron microscopic view of ecdysone- and heat shock-induced puffs in Drosophila melanogaster. Chromosome region 63A–E is shown before (b) and after (c) heat shock, before (b) and after (a) induction of ecdysone. Inactive genes located in compact chromatin form bands. The bands shown in (b) and (c) are activated after administration of an agent inducing gene activity: ecdysone for 63E2–3 or heat shock for 63B9. As a result, the material of the bands loosens, becomes decompacted and local swelling of the chromosome region occurs. Courtesy of VF Semeshin, unpublished.
Figure 7. View of heterozygous deletion in Drosophila melanogaster polytene chromosomes, showing normal and deleted chromosome regions. Redrawn from Painter (1934).
Figure 8. The first drawing of heterozygous inversion in the X-chromosome of Drosophila melanogaster. Synapsis is complete except at the points where the chromosome fragment is inverted. From Painter (1934).
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 Further Reading
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Basic Cell Biology, Protein, RNA and DNA | Cell Compartments and Cellular Organelles | Cell Energetics | Cell Cycle | Growth and Synthesis | Chromosomes and Chromatin Modifications | DNA Structure and Function | Techniques and Tools in Molecular Biology | Nonchromosomal DNA | Cell Structure | Nucleic Acids: Structure, Function, Metabolism
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Article Title: Polytene Chromosomes
 
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Zhimulev, Igor F, and Koryakov, Dmitry E(Mar 2009) Polytene Chromosomes. In: eLS. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Chichester. http://www.els.net [doi: 10.1002/9780470015902.a0001183.pub2]