Abstract
The genome of Prodiamesa olivacea (Diptera, Chironomidae) has a 2 C DNA content of 0.25 pg. Mitotic metaphases reveal 3 pairs of chromosomes: 2 metacentric ones and one submetacentric. The latter comprises 20.8% of total Feulgen DNA. During larval polytenization the complemental portion of the 3rd falls to 6.5%. Concomitantly the polytene 3rd chromosome is much shorter than expected. It has no constriction and is shaped like a ball sector. — Underreplication is understood as suppression of DNA syntheses mainly in the long arm of the 3rd chromosome at the first to third endoreplicative cycle. Most of the dense heterochromatin seen in the apex of the 3rd polytene element is not itself underreplicated; it conceals the underreplicated long arm of this chromosome. — In ovarian nurse cells which are closely connected with the germ line the longer heterochromatic arm of the 3rd polyneme chromosome is fully replicated. — Underreplication is discussed in the context of “DNA silencing”.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Ammermann, D., Steinbrück, G., Berger, L. von, Hennig, W.: The development of the macronucleus in the ciliated protozoan Stylonychia mytilus. Chromosoma (Berl.) 45, 401–429 (1974)
Bantock, C.R.: Experiments on chromosome elimination in the gall midge, Mayetiola destructor. J. Embryol. exp. Morph. 24, 257–286 (1970)
Bauer, H.: Die Speicheldrüsenchromosomen der Chironomiden. Naturwissenschaften 23, 475–476 (1935)
Bauer, H.: Beiträge zur vergleichenden Morphologie der Speicheldrüsenchromosomen (Untersuchungen an den Riesenchromosomen der Dipteren. II). Zool. Jahrb. Physiol. 56, 239–276 (1936)
Bauer, H., Beermann, W.: Chromosomale Soma-Keimbahn-Differenzierung bei Chironomiden. Naturwissenschaften 39, 22–23 (1952)
Beermann, S.: A quantitative study of chromatin diminution in embryonic mitoses of Cyclops furcifer. Genetics 54, 567–576 (1966)
Beermann, S.: Diminution of heterochromatic chromosomal segments in Cyclops (Copepoda, Crustacea). Chromosoma (Berl.) 60, 297–344 (1977)
Beermann, W.: Chromomerenkonstanz und spezifische Modifikationen der Chromosomenstruktur in der Entwicklung und Organdifferenzierung von Chironomus tentans. Chromosoma (Berl.) 5, 139–198 (1952)
Beermann, W.: Neue Wege der Chromosomenforschung. In: Gieseler W., Tillner J. (Eds.): Ber. 7. Tg. Deutsch. Ges. Anthropologie. Göttingen: Musterschmidt 13–35 (1961)
Beermann, W.: Riesenchromosomen (Protoplasmatologia 6, D). Wien: Springer (1962)
Berendes, H.D., Keyl, H.-G.: Distribution of DNA in heterochromatin and euchromatin of polytene nuclei of Drosophila hydei. Genetics 57, 1–13 (1967)
Bier, K.: Der Karyotyp von Calliphora erythrocephala Meigen unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Nährzellkernchromosomen im gebündelten und gepaarten Zustand. Chromosoma (Berl.) 11, 335–364 (1960)
Bier, K.: Unterschiedliche Reproduktionsraten im Eu- und Heterochromatin: ein Weg zur Kerndifferenzierung? Zool. Anz., Suppl. 25, 102–110 (1962)
Bridges, C.B.: Salivary chromosome maps with a key to the banding of the chromosomes of Drosophila melanogaster. J. Hered. 26, 60–64 (1935)
Callan, H.G.: Replication of DNA in the chromosomes of eukaryotes. Proc. roy. Soc. B. 181, 19–41 (1972)
Caspersson, T., Lomakka, G., Svensson, G., Säfström, R.: A versatile ultramicrospectrograph for multiple-line and surface scanning high resolution measurements employing automatized data analysis. Exp. Cell Res. 3, 40–51 (1955)
Cordeiro-Stone, M., Lee, C.S.: Studies on the satellite DNAs of Drosophila nasutoides: Their buoyant densities, melting temperatures, reassociation rates and localization in polytene chromosomes. J. molec. Biol. 104, 1–24 (1976)
Crouse, H.V., Keyl, H.-G.: Extra replications in the “DNA-puffs” of Sciara coprophila. Chromosoma (Berl.) 25, 357–364 (1968)
Fox, D.P.: DNA values in somatic tissues of Dermestes (Dermestidae: Coleoptera). I. Abdominal fat body and testis wall of the adult. Chromosoma (Berl.) 28, 445–456 (1969)
Fox, D.P.: II. Malpighian tubules of the adult male. Chromosoma (Berl.) 31, 321–330 (1970)
Fox, D.P.: A non-doubling DNA series in somatic tissues of the locusts Schistocerca gregaria (Forskål) and Locusta migratoria (Linn.). Chromosoma (Berl.) 29, 446–461 (1970)
Gage, L.P.: Polyploidization of the silk gland of Bombyx mori. J. molec. Biol. 86, 97–108 (1974)
Gall, J.G., Cohen, E.H., Polan, M.L.: Repetitive DNA sequences in Drosophila. Chromosoma (Berl.) 33, 319–344 (1971)
Gall, J.G., Pardue, M.L.: Molecular hybridization of radioactive DNA to the DNA of cytological preparations. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 64, 600–604 (1969)
Geyer-Duszyńska, I.: Genetic factors in oogenesis and spermatogenesis in Cecidomyidae. Chromosomes today 1, 174–178 (1966)
Goetghebuer, M.: Tendipedidae (Chironomidae), Subfamilie Pelopiinae, die Imagines. In: Die Fliegen der paläarktischen Region (E. Lindner, ed.), 13b. Stuttgart: Schweizerbart 1936
Goetghebuer, M.: Tendipedidae (Chironomidae), Subfamilie Podonominae, die Imagines. In: Die Fliegen der paläarktischen Region (E. Lindner, ed.), 13e. Stuttgart: Schweizerbart 1939b
Goetghebuer, M., Lenz, F.: Tendipedidae (Chironomidae), Subfamilie Diamesinae. In: Die Fliegen der paläarktischen Region (E. Lindner, ed.), 13d. Stuttgart: Schweizerbart 1939a
Heitz, E.: Über α- und β-Heterochromatin sowie Konstanz und Bau der Chromomeren bei Drosophila. Biol. Zbl. 54, 588–609 (1934)
Hennig, W.: Molecular hybridization of DNA and RNA in situ. Int. Rev. Cytol. 38, 1–44 (1973)
Hirschi, M.: Replication patterns in polytene chromosomes of Drosophila hydei, D. neohydei and their hybrids. Doctoral thesis, University of Zürich 1977
John, H.A., Birnstiel, M.L., Jones, K.W.: RNA-DNA hybrids at the cytological level. Nature (Lond.) 223, 582–587 (1969)
Jordanov, J.: On the transition of deoxyribonucleic acid to apurinic acid and the loss of the latter from tissues during Feulgen reaction hydrolysis. Acta Histochem. 15, 135–152 (1963)
Keyl, H.-G., Hägele, K.: Heterochromatin-Proliferation an den Speicheldrüsen-Chromosomen von Chironomus melanotus. Chromosoma (Berl.) 19, 223–230 (1966)
Kunz, W., Eckhardt, R.A.: The chromosomal distribution of satellite DNA in the germ-line and somatic tissues of the gall midge, Heteropeza pygmaea. Chromosoma (Berl.) 47, 1–19 (1974)
Leoncini, O.: Temperatursensitive Mutanten im Y-Chromosom von Drosophila hydei. Chromosoma (Berl.) 63, 329–357 (1977)
Mechelke, F.: Reversible Strukturmodifikationen der Speicheldrüsenchromosomen von Acricotopus lucidus. Chromosoma (Berl.) 5, 511–543 (1953)
Meer, B.: Anomalous development and differential DNA replication in the X-chromosome of a Drosophila hybrid. Chromosoma (Berl.) 57, 235–260 (1976)
Melland, A.M.: The salivary glands of Prodiamesa olivacea. A case of asymmetry in the Diptera. J. Hered. 32, 165–167 (1941)
Metz, C.W.: Chromosome behavior, inheritance, and sex determination in Sciara. Amer. Naturalist 72, 485–520 (1938)
Miklos, G.L.G., Nankivell, R.N.: Telomeric satellite DNA functions in regulating recombination. Chromosoma (Berl.) 56, 143–167 (1976)
Moritz, K.B., Roth, G.E.: Complexity of germline and somatic DNA in Ascaris. Nature (Lond.) 259, 55–57 (1976)
Mulder, M.P., van Duijn, P., Gloor, H.J.: The replicative organization of DNA in polytene chromosomes of Drosophila hydei. Genetica ('s-Gravenhage) 39, 385–428 (1968)
Panitz, R.: Balbiani ring activities in Acricotopus lucidus. Cell Differentiation 4, 209–227 (1972)
Pelling, C.: Ribonukleinsäure-Synthese der Riesenchromosomen. Autoradiographische Untersuchungen an Chironomus tentans. Chromosoma (Berl.) 15, 71–122 (1964)
Rae, P.M.M.: Chromosomal distribution of rapidly reannealing DNA in Drosophila melanogaster. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 67, 1018–1025 (1970)
Rae, P.M.M.: The distribution of repetitive DNA sequences in chromosomes. Adv. Cell molec. Biol. 2, 109–149 (1972)
Rasch, E.M., Barr, H.J., Rasch, R.W.: The DNA content of sperm of Drosophila melanogaster. Chromosoma (Berl.) 33, 1–18 (1971)
Rasch, R.W., Rasch, E.M.: Kinetics of hydrolysis during the Feulgen reaction for deoxyribonucleic acid. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 21, 1053–1065 (1973)
Renkawitz, R., Kunz, W.: Independent replication of the ribosomal RNA genes in the polytrophicmeroistic ovaries of Calliphora erythrocephala, Drosophila hydei, and Sarcophaga barbata. Chromosoma (Berl.) 53, 131–140 (1975)
Renkawitz-Pohl, R., Kunz, W.: Underreplication of satellite DNAs in polyploid ovarian tissue of Drosophila virilis. Chromosoma (Berl.) 49, 375–382 (1975)
Ris, H., Mirsky, A.E.: Quantitative cytochemical determination of desoxyribonucleic acid with the Feulgen nucleal reaction. J. gen. Physiol. 33, 125–146 (1950)
Robert, M.: Einfluß von Ionenstärke und pH auf die differentielle Dekondensation der Nukleoproteide isolierter Speicheldrüsen-Zellkerne und -Chromosomen von Chironomus thummi. Chromosoma (Berl.) 36, 1–33 (1971)
Rudkin, G.T.: Nonreplicating DNA in giant chromosomes (Abstract). Genetics 52, 470 (1965)
Rudkin, G.T.: The structure and function of heterochromatin. In: Geerts S.J. (Ed.): Genetics today. Proc. XI Int. Congr. Genet., vol. 2, 359–374 Oxford: Pergamon Press 1965
Rudkin, G.T.: Non replicating DNA in Drosophila. Genetics, Suppl. 61, 227–238 (1969)
Sager, R., Kitchin, R.: Selective silencing of eukaryotic DNA. Science 189, 426–433 (1975)
Sederoff, R., Lowenstein, L., Mayer, A., Stone, J., Birnboim, H.C.: Acid treatment of Drosophila deoxyribonucleic acid. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 23, 482–492 (1975)
Seth, P.K., Gropp, A.: Study of constitutive heterochromatin with a new and simplified fluorescence staining technique. Genetica (Den Haag) 44, 485–495 (1973)
Sokoloff, S., Zacharias, H.: Functional significance of changes in the shape of the polytene X chromosome in Phryne. Chromosoma (Berl.) 63, 359–384 (1977)
Spadari, S., Weissbach, A.: The interaction between DNA synthesis and various DNA polymerase activities in synchronized HeLa cells. J. molec. Biol. 86, 11–20 (1974)
Speiser, Ch.: Quantitative DNS-Bestimmungen im Verlauf der Ontogenese von Acricotopus lucidus (Chironomide). Doctoral thesis, University of Hohenheim 1973
Stalker, H.D.: Banded polytene chromosomes in ovarian nurse cells of adult Diptera. J. Hered. 45, 259–264 (1954)
Steinemann, M.: The in situ formation of DNA. DNA duplexes of Drosophila virilis satellite DNA. Chromosoma (Berl.) 54, 339–348 (1976)
Trapp, L.: Instrumentation for recording microspectrophotometry. In: Introduction to quantitative cytochemistry (J.L. Wied, ed.). Vol. 1, 427–435. New York: Academic Press 1966
Zacharias, H.: Unterreplikation bei Prodiamesa olivacea (Chironomidae). Frankfurt/Main: Haag u. Herchen 1977
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zacharias, H. Underreplication of a polytene chromosome arm in the chironomid Prodiamesa olivacea . Chromosoma 72, 23–51 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00286428
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00286428