The genome has a special relationship with the nuclear envelope in cells. Much of the genome is anchored at the nuclear periphery, tethered by chromatin binding proteins such nuclear lamins and other integral membrane proteins. Even though there are global assays such as DAM-ID or ChIP to assess what parts of the genome are associated with the nuclear envelope, it is also essential to be able to visualize regions of the genome in order to reveal their individual relationships with nuclear structures in single cells. This is executed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in 2-dimensional flattened nuclei (2D-FISH) or 3-dimensionally preserved cells (3D-FISH) in combination with indirect immunofluorescence to reveal structural proteins. This chapter explains the protocols for 2D- and 3D-FISH in combination with indirect immunofluorescence and discusses options for image capture and analysis. Due to the nuclear envelope proteins being part of the non-extractable nucleoskeleton, we also describe how to prepare DNA halos through salt extraction and how they can be used to study genome behavior and association when combined with 2D-FISH.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.