The relationship between human nucleolar organizer regions and nucleoli, probed by 3D-immunoFISH

Marjolein van Sluis, Chelly van Vuuren, Brian McStay

Research output: Chapter in Book or Conference Publication/ProceedingChapterpeer-review

11 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

3D-immunoFISH is a valuable technique to compare the localization of DNA sequences and proteins in cells where three-dimensional structure has been preserved. As nucleoli contain a multitude of protein factors dedicated to ribosome biogenesis and form around specific chromosomal loci, 3D-immunoFISH is a particularly relevant technique for their study. In human cells, nucleoli form around transcriptionally active ribosomal gene (rDNA) arrays termed nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) positioned on the p-arms of each of the acrocentric chromosomes. Here, we provide a protocol for fixing and permeabilizing human cells grown on microscope slides such that nucleolar proteins can be visualized using antibodies and NORs visualized by DNA FISH. Antibodies against UBF recognize transcriptionally active rDNA/NORs and NOP52 antibodies provide a convenient way of visualizing the nucleolar volume. We describe a probe designed to visualize rDNA and introduce a probe comprised of NOR distal sequences, which can be used to identify or count individual NORs.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationMethods in Molecular Biology
PublisherHumana Press Inc.
Pages3-14
Number of pages12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2016

Publication series

NameMethods in Molecular Biology
Volume1455
ISSN (Print)1064-3745

Keywords

  • 3D-immunoFISH
  • Human acrocentric chromosomes
  • Nucleolar organizer region (NOR)
  • Nucleolus
  • Ribosomal genes

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The relationship between human nucleolar organizer regions and nucleoli, probed by 3D-immunoFISH'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this