Chromatin structure in pre- and postblastula embryos of Drosophila

Developmental Biology
K LowenhauptS C Elgin

Abstract

Early in embryogenesis of Drosophila melanogaster, DNA synthesis is extremely rapid while RNA synthesis is virtually undetectable. We have examined the chromatin structure of nuclei from preblastula embryos to determine whether these unusual rates of replication and transcription correlate with any alteration in the chromatin. DNase I-hypersensitive sites at the 5' end of genes have been postulated to be necessary but not sufficient for activity of the associated gene and have been shown to be established prior to the onset of transcription. In order to ascertain whether the apparent transcriptional incompetence of the early embryos is the result of the absence of such chromatin structure, we have examined nuclei from cleavage-stage embryos to determine whether the DNase I-hypersensitive sites have been established. A variety of genes, including inducible heat-shock genes, a constitutively expressed ribosomal protein gene, and two developmentally regulated genes, have been examined. In every case the pattern of DNase I-hypersensitive sites in preblastula embryos duplicates that in the later (6-18 hr after oviposition) embryos. In addition, two extra sites are observed in the early embryos, one at the 5' end of the hsp 70 gene a...Continue Reading

References

May 1, 1979·Developmental Biology·K V Anderson, J A Lengyel
Oct 10, 1979·Nucleic Acids Research·H Weintraub
Dec 1, 1981·Cell·S C Elgin
Dec 1, 1982·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·B J Sina, M Pellegrini
Feb 1, 1981·Developmental Biology·K V Anderson, J A Lengyel
May 1, 1983·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·S Y ChungJ Wooley
Sep 1, 1980·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·V CorcesM Meselson
Sep 15, 1980·Journal of Molecular Biology·D Ish-Horowicz, S M Pinchin
Jan 1, 1981·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·M A KeeneS C Elgin
Sep 1, 1982·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·M W Van DykeP B Dervan
Jun 1, 1983·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·I L CartwrightS C Elgin
Aug 18, 1981·Biochemistry·D W Miller, S C Elgin

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