Abstract
By filter saturation hybridizations the ribosomal (r)DNA contents of the ovaries of Calliphora erythrocephala, Drosophila hydei, and Sarcophaga barbata have been measured in comparison to the rDNA percentages of their diploid brains. The measurements of the ovarian rDNA have been carried out on ovaries where the nurse cells in the distal egg chamber of the ovarioles had reached their highest ploidy level. The diploid rDNA content of each of the respective species was chosen as a 100% standard and the rDNA amounts of the ovaries were related to this 100% level. The results show that the ovaries of C. erythrocephala contain 135% rDNA whereas the rDNA contents in the ovaries of D. hydei and S. barbata are only 51% and 47%, respectively. Measurements carried out on isolated nuclei of the nurse cells and follicle cells in D. hydei show that both have a reduced rDNA content in comparison to the brains (45% and 70%, respectively). The data are discussed in relation to the problem of an rDNA amplification in the germ cells and an rDNA underreplication in polyploid nuclei.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ashburner, M.: Function and structure of polytene chromosomes during insect development. Advanc. Insect Physiol. 7, 1–196 (1970)
Bier, K.: Synthese, interzellulärer Transport und Abbau von Ribonukleinsäure im Ovar der Stubenfliege Musca domestica. J. Cell Biol. 16, 436–440 (1963)
Bier, K., Kunz, W., Ribbert, D.: Struktur und Funktion der Oocytenchromosomen und Nukleolen sowie der Extra-DNA während der Oogenese panoistischer und meroistischer Insekten. Chromosoma (Berl.) 23, 214–254 (1967)
Boyd, J. B., Berendes, H. D., Boyd, H.: Mass preparation of nuclei from the larval salivary glands of Drosophila hydei. J. Cell Biol. 38, 369–376 (1968)
Brown, D. D., Dawid, I. B.: Specific gene amplification in oocytes. Science 160, 272–280 (1968)
Brunk, C. F., Leick, V.: Rapid equilibrium isopycnic CsCl gradients. Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst.) 179, 136–144 (1969)
Cave, M. D.: Absence of rDNA amplification in a meroistic (telotrophic) ovary. J. Cell Biol. 63, 53 a (1974)
Corneo, G., Ginelli, E., Polli, E.: Different satellite deoxyribonucleic acids of guinea pig and ox. Biochemistry (Wash.) 9, 1565–1571 (1970)
Davidson, E. H.: Gene activity in early development. New York-London: Academic Press 1968
Duspiva, F., Scheller, K., Weiß, D., Winter, H.: Ribonucleinsäuresynthese in der telotrophmeroistischen Ovariole von Dysdercus intermedius Dist. (Heteroptera, Pyrrhoc.). Wilhelm Roux' Archiv 172, 83–130 (1973)
Endow, S. A., Gall, J. G.: Differential replication of satellite DNA in polyploid tissues of Drosophila virilis. Chromosoma (Berl.) 50, 175–192 (1975)
Evans, D., Birnstiel, M.: Localization of amplified ribosomal DNA in the oocyte of Xenopus laevis. Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst.) 166, 274–276 (1968)
Gall, J. G.: Differential synthesis of the genes for ribosomal RNA during amphibian oogenesis. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 60, 553–560 (1968)
Gall, J. G., Macgregor, H. C., Kidston, M. E.: Gene amplification in the oocytes of Dytiscid water beetles. Chromosoma (Berl.) 26, 169–187 (1969)
Gambarini, A. G., Lara, F. J. S.: Underreplication of ribosomal cistrons in polytene chromosomes of Rhynchosciara. J. Cell Biol. 62, 215–222 (1974)
Gambarini, A. G., Meneghini, R.: Ribosomal RNA genes in salivary gland and ovary of Rhynchosciara angelae. J. Cell Biol. 54, 421–426 (1972)
Gillespie, D., Spiegelman, S.: A quantitative assay for DNA-RNA hybrids with DNA immobilized on a membrane. J. molec. Biol. 12, 829–842 (1965)
Heinnig, W., Kunz, W., Schnieders, B., Williams, K.: Vergleichende Analyse der nach den Extraktionsmethoden von Kirby und Georgiev aus Mäuseleber extrahierten RNS-Fraktionen. Z. Naturforsch. 26 b, 235–243 (1971)
Hennig, W., Meer, B.: Reduced polyteny of ribosomal RNA cistrons in giant chromosomes of Drosophila hydei. Nature (Lond.) New Biol. 233, 70–72 (1971)
Herrmann, R. G., Bohnert, H.-J., Kowallik, K. V., Schmitt, J. M.: Size, conformation and purity of chloroplast DNA of some higher plants. Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst.) 378, 305–317 (1975)
King, R. C.: Ovarian development in Drosophila melanogaster. New York-London: Academic Press 1970
Kunz, W., Schäfer, U.: Variations in the number of the Y chromosomal rRNA genes in Drosophila hydei. Genetics (in press, 1975)
Lanclos, K., Bresnick, E.: Preparative gel electrophoresis of liver polyribosomal RNA. Analyt. Biochem. 45, 645–652 (1972)
Lima-de-Faria, A., Birnstiel, M., Jaworska, H.: Amplification of ribosomal cistrons in the heterochromatin of Acheta. Genetics 61, Suppl. 145–159 (1969)
Loening, U. E.: The fractionation of high-molecular-weight ribonucleic acid by polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. Biochem. J. 102, 251–257 (1967)
Macgregor, H. C., Stebbings, H.: A massive system of microtubules associated with cytoplasmic movement in telotrophic ovarioles. J. Cell Sci. 6, 431–449 (1970)
Mahowald, A. P., Tiefert, M.: Fine structural changes in the Drosophila oocyte nucleus during a short period of RNA synthesis. Wilhelm Roux' Archiv 165, 8–25 (1970)
Marrakechi, M.: Etude d'un mutant bobbed ayant une quantité normale d'ADN ribosomal. Molec. gen. Genet. 135, 213–229 (1974)
Mays, U.: Stofftransport im Ovar von Pyrrhocoris apterus L. Z. Zellforsch. 123, 395–410 (1972)
Mohan, J., Ritossa, F. M.: Regulation of ribosomal RNA synthesis and its bearing on the bobbed phenotype in Drosophila melanogaster. Develop. Biol. 22, 495–512 (1970)
Renkawitz-Pohl, R., Kunz, W.: Underreplication of satellite DNAs in polyploid ovarian tissue of Drosophila virilis. Chromosoma (Berl.) 49, 375–382 (1975)
Ribbert, D., Bier, K.: Multiple nucleoli and enhanced nucleolar activity in the nurse cells of the insect ovary. Chromosoma (Berl.) 27, 178–197 (1969)
Spear, B. B., Gall, J. G.: Independent control of ribosomal gene replication in polytene chromosomes of Drosophila melanogaster. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 70, 1359–1363 (1973)
Studier, F. W.: Sedimentation studies of the size and shape of DNA. J. molec. Biol. 11, 373–390 (1965)
Tobler, H.: Occurence and developmental significance of gene amplification. In: The biochemistry of animal development (C. S. Weber, ed.), vol. 3. New York-London: Academic Press, in press, 1975
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Renkawitz, R., Kunz, W. Independent replication of the ribosomal RNA genes in the polytrophic-meroistic ovaries of Calliphora erythrocephala, Drosophila hydei, and Sarcophaga barbata . Chromosoma 53, 131–140 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00333041
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00333041