Quantitative electron microscopy of intracytoplasmic type A particles at kinetochores of metaphase chromosomes isolated from Chinese hamster and murine cell lines.

We have successfully isolated and spread individual chromosomes of CHO-KI cells for electron microscopic karyotyping. Controlled preparation permitted a quantitative evaluation of the association between endogenous intracytoplasmic type A virus precursor particles and the centromeric region (kinetochores) of isolated chromosomes at prophase and metaphase. Our results suggest the transfer of type A particles from the cytoplasmic to the centromeric regions during early metaphase in conjunction with microtubule assembly at a time when the kinetochores are structurally mature and capable of binding microtubules. Preliminary comparable studies of the endogenous M432 virus propagated in murine cells support these findings. Our results are discussed with respect to mechanisms of intracellular movement of virus precursor particles and the interference with components of both the cytoskeleton and the mitotic apparatus.