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Transcription rates of individual polytene chromosome bands: effects of gene dose and sex in Drosophila

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Abstract

Autoradiographs of 3H-uridine pulse labeled Drosophila melanogaster salivary gland polytene chromosomes were prepared from normal genotypes and from genotypes which contained either an intrachromosomal duplication of region 16A-17E of the X-chromosome or a non-reciprocal translocation of this segment. RNA extracted from these cytological preparations showed an electrophoretic profile similar to that of RNA from gland homogenates. Silver grains were scored over individual bands. Two different methods to correct for geometry and self-absorption were used to determine the 3H-RNA content of each band. Instability of a band's transcription rate increased with gene dose. The average transcription rate per unit DNA was generally independent of gene dose (dosage effect or additivity). Pairing of homologous bands suppressed RNA synthesis in band 17B. One sex-linked gene in a male or two sex-linked genes in a female effect the same enzyme levels (dosage compensation). Any one X-chromosome band in a male was found to transcribe 0.7 units of RNA for each 1.0 units transcribed by two similar bands in a female-X. Thus, a 40% increase in RNA synthesis by male-X bands effects a 100% increase in enzyme levels. Dosage compensation seems to increase the transcription rate of mRNA on the male-X while not increasing the synthesis of non-messenger chromosomal RNA.

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  1. Gerald Holmquist

    Present address: Department of Biological Chemistry, Harvard Medical School, 02115, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

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  1. Department of Cell Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana

    Gerald Holmquist

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  1. Gerald Holmquist
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Holmquist, G. Transcription rates of individual polytene chromosome bands: effects of gene dose and sex in Drosophila . Chromosoma 36, 413–452 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00336796

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