Factors involved in the expression of gene activity in polytene chromosomes.

Abstract

In order to separate some of the factors involved in the formation of puffs the antibiotic actinomycin D was applied at different stages of puff activity. Puffs were induced by temperature shocks or eodysone. Inhibition of RNA synthesis with actinomycin D before application of a puff inducing stimulus prevents neither the appearance of the stimulus specific puffs nor the accumulation of acidic proteins in the puff regions. The puffs attained under these conditions approximately 1/3 of the size normally produced by the stimulus. Indications were obtained that during puff formation acidic protein accumulation precedes the onset of RNA synthesis. Synthesis and storage of newly synthesized RNA within the puff region was studied on the basis of grain distribution in uridine-H3 autoradiographs after various incubation periods. RNA synthesis appears to be restricted to a particular area of the puff region. After a 3 min temperature shock following injection of uridine-H3 silver grains are located only over a particular area of the newly formed puff. The same area becomes labeled during a 1 min pulse of uridine-H3 applied at a stage of maximum puff development. Longer periods of incubation result in a random distribution of the grains over the whole puff region. Grain counts on different areas of experimentally induced puffs and on the same areas at a stage of puff regression indicate that the newly synthesized RNA becomes transferred from the area where it was synthesized and is stored for a certain period within the puff region. Complete release of newly synthesized RNA from puffs in which RNA synthesis was inhibited by actinomycin D at a stage of maximal activity is accomplished within 30 to 35 min.