Skip to main content

G2 Premature Chromosome Condensation/Chromosome Aberration Assay: Drug-Induced Premature Chromosome Condensation (PCC) Protocols and Cytogenetic Approaches in Mitotic Chromosome and Interphase Chromatin for Radiation Biology

  • Protocol
  • First Online:
Book cover Radiation Cytogenetics

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1984))

Abstract

Chromosome analysis is a fundamental technique for a wide range of cytogenetic studies. Chromosome aberrations are easily introduced by many kinds of clastogenic agents such as ionizing irradiation, UV, or alkylating agents, and damaged chromosomes may be prone to cancer. Chromosomes are conventionally prepared from mitotic cells arrested by the colcemid block method. However, obtaining of mitotic chromosomes is sometimes hampered under several circumstances, for example after high-dose (over several Gys of γ-rays) ionizing irradiation exposure accident. As a result, cytogenetic analysis will be often difficult or even impossible in such cases. Premature chromosome condensation (PCC) is an alternative technique that has proved to be a unique and useful way in chromosome analysis. Previously, PCC has been achieved following cell fusion mediated either by fusogenic viruses (for example Sendai virus) or by polyethylene glycol (PEG) (cell-fusion PCC), but the cell-fusion PCC has several drawbacks. The novel drug-induced PCC use of specific inhibitors for serine/threonine protein phosphatase was introduced about 20 years ago. This method is much simple and easy even than the conventional mitotic chromosome preparation using colcemid block protocol and the obtained PCC index (equivalent to mitotic index for metaphase chromosome) is much higher. Furthermore, this method allows the interphase chromatin to be condensed and visualized like mitotic chromosomes, and thus has been opening the way for chromosome analysis not only in metaphase chromosomes but also in interphase chromatin. The drug-induced PCC has therefore proven the usefulness in cytogenetics and other many cell biology fields. Since the first version of drug-induced PCC protocol has been published in 2009 (Gotoh, Methods in molecular biology. Humana Press, New York, 2009), many newer applications of drug-induced PCC in radiation biology and chromosome science fields in a wide range of species from animal to plant have been reported (Gotoh et al., Biomed Res 16:63–68, 1995; Lamadrid Boada et al., Mutat Res 757:45–51, 2013; Ravi et al., Biochimie 95:124–33, 2013; Ono et al., J Cell Biol 200:429–41, 2013; Vagnarelli, Exp Cell Res 318:1435–41, 2012; Roukos et al., Nat Protoc 9:2476–92, 2014; Miura and Blakely, Cytometry A 79:1016–22, 2013; Zabka et al., J Plant Physiol 174:62–70, 2015; Samaniego et al., Planta 215:195–204, 2002; Rybaczek et al., Folia Histochem Cytobiol 40:51–9, 2002; Gotoh and Durante J Cell Physiol 209:297–304, 2006). Therefore as a new edition, I will write in this chapter the drug-induced PCC technique with newer findings, in particular focused drug-induced PCC protocols in radiation biology with referring updated articles published recently.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Protocol
USD 49.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Vagnarelli P (2012) Mitotic chromosome condensation in vertebrates. Exp Cell Res 318(12):1435–1441

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Gotoh E, Durante M (2006) Chromosome condensation outside of mitosis: mechanisms and new tools. J Cell Physiol 209:297–304. and Cover page

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Johnson RT, Rao PN (1970) Mammalian cell fusion: induction of premature chromosome condensation in interphase nuclei. Nature 226(247):717–722

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Sperling K, Rao PN (1974) The phenomenon of premature chromosome condensation: its relevance to basic and applied research. Humangenetik 23(4):235–258

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Sperling K, Rao PN (1974) Mammalian cell fusion. V. Replication behaviour of heterochromatin as observed by premature chromosome condensation. Chromosoma 45(2):121–131

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Rao PN, Wilson B, Puck TT (1977) Premature chromosome condensation and cell cycle analysis. J Cell Physiol 91(1):131–141

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Mullinger AM, Johnson RT (1983) Units of chromosome replication and packing. J Cell Sci 64:179–193

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Ito S et al (2002) Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen-1 is highly colocalized with interphase chromatin and its newly replicated regions in particular. J Gen Virol 83(Pt 10):2377–2383

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Gotoh E (2007) Visualizing the dynamics of chromosome structure formation coupled with DNA replication. Chromosoma 116(5):453–462

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Cornforth MN, Bedford JS (1983) X-ray-induced breakage and rejoining of human interphase chromosomes. Science 222(4628):1141–1143

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Cornforth MN, Bedford JS (1983) High-resolution measurement of breaks in prematurely condensed chromosomes by differential staining. Chromosoma 88(4):315–318

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Pantelias GE, Maillie HD (1984) The use of peripheral blood mononuclear cell prematurely condensed chromosomes for biological dosimetry. Radiat Res 99(1):140–150

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Durante M et al (1996) Rejoining and misrejoining of radiation-induced chromatin breaks. I. Experiments with human lymphocytes. Radiat Res 145(3):274–280

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Hittelman WN (1990) Direct measurement of chromosome repair by premature chromosome condensation. Prog Clin Biol Res 340B:337–346

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Pantelias GE, Maillie HD (1983) A simple method for premature chromosome condensation induction in primary human and rodent cells using polyethylene glycol. Somatic Cell Genet 9(5):533–547

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Lamadrid Boada AI et al (2013) Rapid assessment of high-dose radiation exposures through scoring of cell-fusion-induced premature chromosome condensation and ring chromosomes. Mutat Res 757(1):45–51

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Rao PN, Johnson RT (1970) Mammalian cell fusion: studies on the regulation of DNA synthesis and mitosis. Nature 225(228):159–164

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Rao PN, Johnson RT (1971) Mammalian cell fusion. IV. Regulation of chromosome formation from interphase nuclei by various chemical compounds. J Cell Physiol 78(2):217–223

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Hittelman WN (1986) Visualization of chromatin events during DNA excision repair in XP cells: deficiency in localized but not generalized chromatin events. Carcinogenesis 7(12):1975–1980

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Pantelias GE (1986) Radiation-induced cytogenetic damage in relation to changes in interphase chromosome conformation. Radiat Res 105(3):341–350

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Iliakis GE, Pantelias GE (1990) Production and repair of chromosome damage in an X-ray sensitive CHO mutant visualized and analysed in interphase using the technique of premature chromosome condensation. Int J Radiat Biol 57(6):1213–1223

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Pantelias GE et al (1993) Biological dosimetry of absorbed radiation by C-banding of interphase chromosomes in peripheral blood lymphocytes. Int J Radiat Biol 63(3):349–354

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Schlegel R, Pardee AB (1986) Caffeine-induced uncoupling of mitosis from the completion of DNA replication in mammalian cells. Science 232(4755):1264–1266

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Schlegel R, Belinsky GS, Harris MO (1990) Premature mitosis induced in mammalian cells by the protein kinase inhibitors 2-aminopurine and 6-dimethylaminopurine. Cell Growth Differ 1(4):171–178

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Yamashita K et al (1990) Okadaic acid, a potent inhibitor of type 1 and type 2A protein phosphatases, activates cdc2/H1 kinase and transiently induces a premature mitosis-like state in BHK21 cells. EMBO J 9(13):4331–4338

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  26. Gotoh E (2009) Drug-induced premature chromosome condensation (PCC) protocols: cytogenetic approaches in mitotic chromosome and interphase chromatin. In: Chellappan SP (ed) Methods in molecular biology, Chromatin protocols, vol 523, 2nd edn. Humana Press, New York, pp 83–92

    Google Scholar 

  27. Gotoh E (1995) Agents and a method of chromosome preparation using protein phosphatase inhibitors induced premature chromosome condensation (PCC) technique. Gotoh, E.: USA Patent

    Google Scholar 

  28. Gotoh E, Asakawa Y, Kosaka H (1995) Inhibition of protein serine/threonine phosphatases directly induces premature chromosome condensation in mammalian somatic cells. Biomed Res 16(1):63–68

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Bryant PE, Mozdarani H (2007) A comparison of G2 phase radiation-induced chromatid break kinetics using calyculin-PCC with those obtained using colcemid block. Mutagenesis 22(5):359–362

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Ravi M, Nivedita K, Pai GM (2013) Chromatin condensation dynamics and implications of induced premature chromosome condensation. Biochimie 95(2):124–133

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Ono T, Yamashita D, Hirano T (2013) Condensin II initiates sister chromatid resolution during S phase. J Cell Biol 200(4):429–441

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  32. Roukos V, Burgess RC, Misteli T (2014) Generation of cell-based systems to visualize chromosome damage and translocations in living cells. Nat Protoc 9(10):2476–2492

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  33. Gotoh E, Asakawa Y (1996) Detection and evaluation of chromosomal aberrations induced by high doses of gamma-irradiation using immunogold-silver painting of prematurely condensed chromosomes. Int J Radiat Biol 70(5):517–520

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Asakawa Y, Gotoh E (1997) A method for detecting sister chromatid exchanges using prematurely condensed chromosomes and immunogold-silver staining. Mutagenesis 12(3):175–177

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Durante M, Furusawa Y, Gotoh E (1998) A simple method for simultaneous interphase-metaphase chromosome analysis in biodosimetry. Int J Radiat Biol 74(4):457–462

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Johnson RT et al (1999) Targeting double-strand breaks to replicating DNA identifies a subpathway of DSB repair that is defective in ataxia-telangiectasia cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 261(2):317–325

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Gotoh E, Kawata T, Durante M (1999) Chromatid break rejoining and exchange aberration formation following gamma-ray exposure: analysis in G2 human fibroblasts by chemically induced premature chromosome condensation. Int J Radiat Biol 75(9):1129–1135

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. IAEA (2001) Cytogenetic analysis for radiation dose assessment. A manual. Technical reports series no. 405. International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna

    Google Scholar 

  39. Bezrookove V et al (2003) Premature chromosome condensation revisited: a novel chemical approach permits efficient cytogenetic analysis of cancers. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 38(2):177–186

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. El Achkar E et al (2005) Premature condensation induces breaks at the interface of early and late replicating chromosome bands bearing common fragile sites. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 102(50):18069–18074

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  41. Srebniak MI et al (2005) The usefulness of calyculin a for cytogenetic prenatal diagnosis. J Histochem Cytochem 53(3):391–394

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Gotoh E, Tanno Y (2005) Simple biodosimetry method for cases of high-dose radiation exposure using the ratio of the longest/shortest length of Giemsa-stained drug-induced prematurely condensed chromosomes (PCC). Int J Radiat Biol 81(5):379–385

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Gotoh E, Tanno Y, Takakura K (2005) Simple biodosimetry method for use in cases of high-dose radiation exposure that scores the chromosome number of Giemsa-stained drug-induced prematurely condensed chromosomes (PCC). Int J Radiat Biol 81(1):33–40

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Mochida A et al (2005) Telomere size and telomerase activity in Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive and EBV-negative Burkitt’s lymphoma cell lines. Arch Virol 150(10):2139–2150

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Deckbar D et al (2007) Chromosome breakage after G2 checkpoint release. J Cell Biol 176(6):749–755

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  46. Kanda T et al (2007) Symmetrical localization of extrachromosomally replicating viral genomes on sister chromatids. J Cell Sci 120(Pt 9):1529–1539

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Pathak R, Prasanna PG (2014) Premature chromosome condensation in human resting peripheral blood lymphocytes without mitogen stimulation for chromosome aberration analysis using specific whole chromosome DNA hybridization probes. Methods Mol Biol 1105:171–181

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Romero I et al (2014) Shortening the culture time in cytogenetic dosimetry using Pcc-R assay. Radiat Prot Dosim 163(4):424–429. pii: p. ncu258

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Miura T et al (2014) A novel parameter, cell-cycle progression index, for radiation dose absorbed estimation in the premature chromosome condensation assay. Radiat Prot Dosim 159(1–4):52–60

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Zabka A et al (2015) The biphasic interphase-mitotic polarity of cell nuclei induced under DNA replication stress seems to be correlated with Pin2 localization in root meristems of Allium cepa. J Plant Physiol 174:62–70

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Samaniego R, de la Torre C, de la Espina SMD (2002) Dynamics of replication foci and nuclear matrix during S phase in Allium cepa L. cells. Planta 215(2):195–204

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Rybaczek D et al (2002) Induction of premature mitosis in root meristem cells of Vicia faba and Pisum sativum by various agents is correlated with an increased level of protein phosphorylation. Folia Histochem Cytobiol 40(1):51–59

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Sambrook J, Fritsch EF, Maniatis T (1989) Phosphate buffers. In: Molecular cloning, vol 3. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, New York, p Appendix B.21

    Google Scholar 

  54. Coleman CN et al (2009) Medical response to a radiologic/nuclear event: integrated plan from the office of the assistant secretary for preparedness and response, department of health and human services. Ann Emerg Med 53(2):213–222

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Kanda R, Hayata I, Lloyd DC (1999) Easy biodosimetry for high-dose radiation exposures using drug-induced, prematurely condensed chromosomes. Int J Radiat Biol 75(4):441–446

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Gotoh E (2012) Cytogenetic biodosimetry for accidental emergency irradiation exposure preparedness, in particular merit of the use of drug-induced premature chromosome condensation (PCC) with calyculin A. Deep Insight for the Atlas of Genetics and Cytogenetics in Oncology and Haematology. http://atlasgeneticsoncology.org/Deep/VisuDynChID20114.html

  57. IAEA (2011) Cytogenetic dosimetry: applications in preparedness for and response to radiation emergencies. A manual. Technical reports. Technical reports series. International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna

    Google Scholar 

  58. del Rosario Perez M et al (2009) A new handbook on triage, monitoring and treatment of people following malevolent use of radiation. Health Phys 98(6):898–902

    Article  Google Scholar 

  59. Gotoh E (1994) Agents and a method of chromosome preparation using protein phosphatase inhibitors induced premature chromosome condensation (PCC) technique. Gotoh E: UK, Germany, Italy, France, Netherland, Sweden

    Google Scholar 

  60. Gotoh E (1995) Agents and a method of chromosome preparation using protein phosphatase inhibitors induced premature chromosome condensation. Gotoh, E.: Canada Patent

    Google Scholar 

  61. Miura T, Blakely WF (2013) Optimization of calyculin A-induced premature chromosome condensation assay for chromosome aberration studies. Cytometry A 79(12):1016–1022

    Article  Google Scholar 

  62. Masui Y (1974) A cytostatic factor in amphibian oocytes: its extraction and partial characterization. J Exp Zool 187(1):141–147

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  63. Masui Y (2001) From oocyte maturation to the in vitro cell cycle: the history of discoveries of maturation-promoting factor (MPF) and cytostatic factor (CSF). Differentiation 69(1):1–17

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  64. Dunphy WG et al (1988) The Xenopus cdc2 protein is a component of MPF, a cytoplasmic regulator of mitosis. Cell 54(3):423–431

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  65. Gautier J et al (1988) Purified maturation-promoting factor contains the product of a Xenopus homolog of the fission yeast cell cycle control gene cdc2+. Cell 54(3):433–439

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  66. Maller J et al (1989) Maturation-promoting factor and the regulation of the cell cycle. J Cell Sci Suppl 12:53–63

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  67. Doree M, Galas S (1994) The cyclin-dependent protein kinases and the control of cell division. FASEB J 8(14):1114–1121

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  68. Prasanna PG, Escalada ND, Blakely WF (2000) Induction of premature chromosome condensation by a phosphatase inhibitor and a protein kinase in unstimulated human peripheral blood lymphocytes: a simple and rapid technique to study chromosome aberrations using specific whole-chromosome DNA hybridization probes for biological dosimetry. Mutat Res 466(2):131–141

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  69. Prasanna PG, Blakely WF (2005) Premature chromosome condensation in human resting peripheral blood lymphocytes for chromosome aberration analysis using specific whole-chromosome DNA hybridization probes. In: Keohavong P, Grant SG (eds) Methods in molecular biology, Molecular toxicology protocols, vol 291. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ, pp 49–57

    Google Scholar 

  70. Zhang YW, Ghosh AK, Pommier Y (2012) Lasonolide a, a potent and reversible inducer of chromosome condensation. Cell Cycle 11(23):4424–4435

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

I wish to express my thanks to Prof. Paul Wilson of Brookhaven National Laboratory and Prof. Takamitsu Kato of Colorado State University for their recommendation to give me a chance to contribute to this chapter.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature

About this protocol

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this protocol

Gotoh, E. (2019). G2 Premature Chromosome Condensation/Chromosome Aberration Assay: Drug-Induced Premature Chromosome Condensation (PCC) Protocols and Cytogenetic Approaches in Mitotic Chromosome and Interphase Chromatin for Radiation Biology. In: Kato, T., Wilson, P. (eds) Radiation Cytogenetics. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1984. Humana, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-9432-8_6

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-9432-8_6

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Humana, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-9430-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-9432-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

Publish with us

Policies and ethics