Scaffold-like structures in mouse chromosomes revealed by restriction endonuclease digestion and electron microscopy

A scaffold-like structure is observed under the electron microscope when mouse chromosomes are digested with the restriction endonuclease Hae III. This structure, located in the inner part of chromatids, may correspond to those fragments of chromatin loops anchored to the chromosome scaffold and is obtained when chromosomes are treated either in suspension or attached to grids. The width of the structure is correlated with the extent of digestion in chromosomes treated in suspension. Those treated on grids show this structure whenever chromatids do not collapse. These results agree with the model of chromosome organization based on a non-histone protein scaffold.