Abstract
Primary roots ofPisum sativum andVicia faba were treated for 1/2 hour with several ethylenimines and related compounds. Root samples were removed periodically for several mitotic cycles, and squash preparations were made and scored for anaphase damage as indicated by bridges and fragments. It was observed that maximum damage did not appear until after a delay which varied from 2 to 3 mitotic cycles after treatment, then dropped off in some cases, and persisted in others. The mitotic delay was estimated to be about 3 hours inPisum, and 6–7 hours inVicia. This delay is attributed to one or more of the following: (1) the number of strands in a chromosome, (2) the unit of breakage, and (3) the type of assortment of the chromatids, whether random or not. Some chemicals were mutagenic, although they did not induce any detectable chromosome damage. Experiments in which 5-amino-uracil was used did not indicate that any particular stage of the mitotic cycle was especially susceptible to damage. Preliminary experiments with DNP show that ATP is required either for uptake or site binding of the chemicals before actual breakage.
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Results of investigations carried out under NIH grant CA 06865-04 and project 99, Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, East Lansing. Published with the approval of the Director as Journal Article 4450. We wish to thank Mrs.Jill Oakley, MissCarole Belcher, Mr. B. N. Singh, andMr. Roosevelt Alcorn for technical assistance, andDr. Roger Hoopingarner for many helpful discussions.
Post doctoral fellow, Department of Crop Science, Michigan State University, and Professor of Botany, deceased January 18, 1968.
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Ninan, T., Wilson, G.B. Chromosome breakage by ethylenimines and related compounds. Genetica 40, 103–119 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01787344
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01787344