Abstract
Effects of amino acids on puffing in salivary gland chromosomes of Chironomus thummi are described. All twenty naturally occurring amino acids except tyrosine were tested. Of these, only tryptophan and phenylalanine proved effective. Both induced puffs at the same seven loci: Ia3/4, Ie3, If4, Ig1, Ig2, IIId1 and IIId1/2. The induction is energy dependent and requires concomitant RNA synthesis. Amino acid induced puffs incorporate 3H-uridine into acid insoluble material. At least one monovalent plus one divalent cation has to be present along with the amino acid in the incubation medium for puff induction.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Allfrey, V. G., Meudt, R., Hopkins, J. W., Mirsky, A. E.: Sodium dependent “transport” reactions in the cell nucleus and their role in protein and ribonucleic acid synthesis. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 47, 907–932 (1961)
Ashburner, M.: Function and structure of polytene chromosomes during insect development. Advanc. Insect Physiol. 7, 1–95 (1970)
Brown, D. M., Michael, A. F.: Effects of Ca2+ and Mg2+ upon amino acid transport in renal cortex slices. Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst.) 233, 215–221 (1971)
Corrigan, J. J.: Nitrogen metabolism in insects. In: Comparative biochemistry of nitrogen metabolism. I. Invertebrata (J. W. Campbell, ed.), p. 377–488. New York: Academic Press 1970
Fedoroff, N. V., Milkman, R. D.: Induction of puffs in Drosophila salivary gland chromosomes by amino acids. DIS 40, 48 (1965)
Gopalan, H. N. B.: Effect of cordycepin on ion induced puffing and RNA synthesis in salivary glands of Chironomus thummi. Experientia (Basel) 27, 724–726 1973)
Keyl, H.-G.: Untersuchungen am Karyotypus von Chironomus thummi. I. Karte der Speicheldrüsenchromosomen von Chironomus thummi thummi und die cytologische Differenzierung der Subspezies Ch. th. thummi und Ch. th. piger. Chromosoma (Berl.) 8, 739–756 (1957)
Klein, R. L., Horton, C. R., Thureson-Klein, A.: Evidence for an amino acid transport in nuclei isolated from embryonic heart. Europ. J. Biochem. 6, 514–524 (1968)
Kroeger, H.: Experiments on the extranuclear control of gene activity in dipteran polytene chromosomes. J. cell. comp. Physiol. 62, Suppl. 1, 45–59 (1963)
Kroeger, H.: Zellphysiologische Mechanismen bei der Regulation von Genaktivitäten in den Riesenchromosomen von Chironomus thummi. Chromosoma (Berl.) 15, 36–70 (1964)
Kroeger, H., Lezzi, M.: Regulation of gene activity in insect development. Ann. Rev. Entomol. 11, 1–22 (1966)
Lezzi, M., Differential gene activation in isolated chromosomes. Int. Rev. Cytol. 23, 127–168 (1970)
Lezzi, M., Frigg, M.: Specific effects of juvenile hormone on chromosome function. Mitt. Schweiz. Entomol. Ges. 44, 163–170 (1971)
Lezzi, M., Robert, M.: Chromosomes isolated from unfixed salivary glands of Chironomus. In: Results and problems in cell differentiation, vol. 4 (W. Beermann, ed.), p. 35–57. Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer 1972
Politoff, A. L., Socolar, A. J., Loewenstein, W. R.: Permeability of a cell membrane junction. Dependence on energy metabolism. J. gen. Physiol. 53, 498–515 (1969)
Robert, M.: Einfluß von Ionenstärke und pH auf die differentielle Dekondensation der Nukleoproteide isolierter Speicheldrüsenzellkerne und -chromosomen von Chironomus thummi. Chromosoma (Berl.) 36, 1–33 (1971)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gopalan, H.N.B. Amino acid induced changes of puffing patterns in Chironomus salivary gland chromosomes. Chromosoma 44, 25–32 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00372571
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00372571