Induction and characterization of premature chromosome condensation in Drosophila synkaryons and implications to dosage compensation.

ABSTRACT

Premature chromosome condensation (PCC) was induced in Drosophila melanogaster cell hybrids, with Drosophila mitotic cells and interphase cells at different phases (G1,G1-S,S,S-G2 of the cell cycle, and from male and female, using standard cell fusion technique with polyethylene glycol (PEG). A combination of Feulgen and autoradiography was used to enhance the resolution of the PCC plates. It was possible to identify the characteristics of PCC's at G1, S and G2, and the transitory intermediate phases, which are comparable with respect to the characteristics of PCC's previously described for other species. Using the combined Feulgen-autoradiography technique it was possible to critically resolve the different phases including the transitory intermediate phases in greater detail. Analysis and comparison of results obtained from M (female) x S (female/male) and M (female) x G2 (female/male) hybrids have revealed that the X chromosome from the male could be identified as a distinct acrocentric entity which showed clear allocyclic, heteropycnotic characteristics. The results thus lead us to suggest that the X chromosome in such synkaryons is indeed early replicating as is the X chromosome of male larval salivary gland of Drosophila. The X chromosome morphology is also distinctly at an advanced stage of the cell cycle. On the basis of these findings it is concluded that X chromosome is hyperactive in the normally dividing diploid cells.