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Suppression of transcription of the ribosomal RNA cistrons of Drosophila melanogaster in a structurally rearranged chromosome

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Abstract

The biochemical evidence presented in this paper supports Baker's hypothesis, based on genetic evidence, that the lethality of sc s1/0 larvae is due primarily to suppression of the genes for 18S and 28S ribosomal RNA. The levels of ribosomal RNA in sc s1/0 and in y w/0 (control) larvae were determined by three different methods. The results showed a consistent reduction of about 15% in the amount of 18S and 28S ribosomal RNA in sc s1/0. In addition, DNA:RNA hybridization data established that the sc s1 chromosome had not lost ribosomal DNA, so that the decreased synthesis of ribosomes could not be attributed to a somatic deletion. It is suggested that the reduction in 18S and 28S ribosomal RNA in sc s1/0 results from a suppression of transcription.

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Author notes

  1. Carroll E. Nix

    Present address: Biology Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois

    Carroll E. Nix

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  1. Carroll E. Nix
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Supported in part by PHS postdoctoral fellowship 1-F02-CA-42, 114-01 and NIH grant No. GM-07428. Oak Ridge National Laboratory is operated by Union Carbide Corporation for the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.

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Nix, C.E. Suppression of transcription of the ribosomal RNA cistrons of Drosophila melanogaster in a structurally rearranged chromosome. Biochem Genet 10, 1–12 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00485743

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00485743

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