The biochemical and cytological characterization of Vicia faba DNA by means of MboI, AluI and Bam HI restriction endonucleases

Restriction endonucleases were employed to characterize both cytologically and electrophoretically the DNA of Vicia faba. The electrophoretic pattern of total DNA digested with AluI and MboI shows a continuous smear. Bam HI also shows a continuous smear for the bigger polynucleotide fragments and several bands in the lower part of the lane. Digestion of fixed chromosomal DNA produces metaphase longitudinal differentiation when MboI and AluI are used, while no appreciable banding pattern is present when Bam HI is employed. These results are discussed in relation to the organization of chromosomal DNA, to other data in the literature on chromosome banding and on the digestion of total DNA of other species. © 1987 Springer-Verlag.