In situ enzymatic denaturation and random oligonucleotide priming of DNA selectively stains centromeric heterochromatin in Triturus marmoratus (Salamandridae: Caudata)
Enzymatic production of single-stranded DNA with the HaeIII restriction endonuclease and exonuclease III has been used for chromosome labelling involving random primer extension and incorporation of biotinylated nucleotides with the Klenow polymerase on fixed chromosomes of Triturus marmoratus. Results show repetitive and selective labelling of centromeric heterochromatin, while remaining heterochromatin does not exhibit a positive response. This method of chromosome labelling permits the characterization of specific fractions of the heterochromatin and can be used for the analysis of heterochromatin heterogeneity within a given genome.Key words: Triturus marmoratus, cytogenetics, heterochromatin, restriction endonuclease DNA denaturation, random priming.