Gene activities in the Malphigian tubules of Drosophila hydei at different developmental stages

Abstract

AbstractA detailed analysis of the puffing patterns of Malphigian tubules, stomach and salivary glands of Drosophila hydei revealed that from a total of 110 easily recognizable puffs 76 (69%) are present in all tissues at one time or another during mid and late third instar. A small number of puffs showed tissue specific activity. Three such puffs were restricted to the Malphigian tubules, four to the stomach and seven to the salivary glands. A number of puffs was found to be absent in only one of the investigated tissues during the whole of the period. A comparison of the puffs specific for a definite developmental stage revealed that from the 22 puffs in the salivary glands which were specific for the period of puparium formation, only six showed an identical reaction in all tissues. In the late third instar stage three puffs were observed to become active earlier in the stomach than in the salivary glands, whereas no activity of these puffs was found in the Malphigian tubules. A possible relation of these puffs to the process of histolysis is discussed.A comparison of the puffing patterns of Malphigian tubules in larvae and in adults showed that 12 puffs which were observed in the larvae were absent in the adults. No specific puffs occurred in the adult Malphigian tubules.