Sequential gene activation by ecdysone in polytene chromosomes of Drosophila melanogaster, : IV. The mid prepupal period

Abstract

In the mid prepupal period of development of Drosophila melanogaster two major changes in gene activity occur in the salivary glands: (a) The mid prepupal puffs (e.g., 63E, 75CD) are induced and (b) the late prepupal puffs (e.g., 62E, 74EF, 75B, and 93F) acquire the competence to respond to ecdysone. These events can be studied in vitro. Both require that the ecdysone titre be very low (<5 × 10 −9, M) and both events depend upon protein synthesis.