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Direct association of Balbiani ring 75S RNA with membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum

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Abstract

PUFFS in polytene chromosomes probably represent active genes (see, for example, ref. 1). Cytogenetic investigations with large tissue-specific puffs, the Balbiani rings (BR) in Chironomus salivary gland cells, revealed a correlation between the BR and salivary export proteins2,3. Biochemical analysis of the BR showed that in Chironomus tentans RNA of a defined size is synthesised and transported to the cytoplasm4. This RNA, which sediments as 75S RNA, has properties of a messenger RNA, that it, it contains poly A5 and is located in polysomes6. If the BR-RNA directs synthesis of export proteins it would be expected to associate with the membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Here we show that such an association exists and that it is independent of ribosomes and polysomal structures.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Histology, Karolinska Institutet, S-104 01, Stockholm, Sweden

    ULF LÖNN

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  1. ULF LÖNN
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LÖNN, U. Direct association of Balbiani ring 75S RNA with membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum. Nature 270, 630–631 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1038/270630a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/270630a0

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