Attraction between centric heterochromatin of human chromosomes.

An analysis of the pattern of association of acrocentric chromosomes with nonacrocentric chromosomes in human lymphocyte metaphases was performed. This pattern in nonrandom with respect to chromosome length and intrachromosomal distribution. There is a general preference for the centric regions, most pronounced at the proximal segments of the long arms of chromosomes 1, 9, and 16, which is interpreted to reflect heterochromatin attraction during interphase. Comparison of the association patterns of homologous chromosome 1's differing with regard to the size of their heterochromatic regions corroborates this interpretation. The possible significance of heterochromatin attraction for the formation of spontaneous and induced chromosome anomalies is discused.