ISSN:
1573-4927
Keywords:
kynurenine hydroxylase
;
cinnabar locus
;
EMS mutagenesis
;
Drosophila melanogaster
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Chemistry and Pharmacology
Notes:
Abstract A study was undertaken to isolate mutations affecting the temporal appearance of kynurenine hydroxylase in Drosophila melanogaster. Such mutations, lacking or having reduced enzyme activity at the larval or pupal stage only, could represent changes in regulatory functions. Mutagenesis was carried out using EMS. Potential mutations were isolated from mass F1 cultures. The screening of large numbers of individuals was made possible by the use of the mutant red, which allowed visual classification for the presence or absence of the enzyme at both stages. From a series of six mutagenesis experiments 111,561 chromosomes were tested, and 122 phenotypically mutant F1 individuals were found. From these, 38 inheritable mutations were isolated which, by phenotypic observation, lacked or had reduced enzyme activity at the larval and pupal stages. Assay of enzyme activity levels in several of the mutants confirmed the phenotypic data. All of the 27 mutations that could be tested further are recessive and behave as cinnabar alleles. Complementation tests were performed between these 27 mutant stocks, and no complementation in the production of eye color has been seen between the mutants examined. When extended collection periods were used, a significantly higher percentage of inheritable mutations was isolated from the first 3 days of the screen. Over 80% of the F1 phenotypic mutants could be classified as mosaics, which indicates that cinnabar can be autonomous under certain conditions. The failure to isolate mutations in possible regulatory function is discussed.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00483738
