Abstract: In situ hybridization using biotinylated cDNA probes of 18S rRNA, 5S rRNA, tRNAfMet, tRNAcys, tRNAAsn was performed on ultra-thin sections of K4M-embedded maize root tip. After hybridization, the biotinylated hybrids were detected with avidin coupled to 10 nm gold particles and then examined under the electron microscopy. The results showed that 18S rRNA, 5S rRNA and tRNA all existed in the metaphase chromosomes at random. They were distributed not only in the interior of the chromosomes, but also in the periphery of the chromosomes. Three tRNAs and 5S rRNA in the chromosomes were equal in amount to that in the cytoplasm, but the amount of 18S rRNA in the chromosomes was much higher than that in the cytoplasm. These results indicated that a part of the RNAs in the chromosomes came from the nucleolus, while others came from the nucleoplasm.

Key words: Electron microscopy in situ hybridization, Metaphase chromosome, 5S rRNA, tRNA, 18S rRNA