Alterations in the levels of phosphorus-containing compounds in theDrosophila mutant ?lethal-translucida?

Abstract

1. Methods have been described for the separation and assay of various phosphorus-containing fractions ofDrosophila. 2. In the mutant, “lethal-translucida”, total acid-soluble phosphorus and ATP are present in normal amounts on a wet weight basis, or in excessive amounts on a dry weight basis; total phospho-lipid, nucleic acid, and residual phosphorus are deficient on a wet weight basis, or substantially normal on a dry weight basis; 5′-AMP is grossly deficient on a wet weight basis, and is substantially lower than normal even on a dry weight basis. The significance of these findings in relation to the abnormality of protein metabolism inltr is discussed. 3. Within experimental error, the ribonucleic acid of “lethal-translucida” has the same nucleotide composition as that of wild typeDrosophila.