| Abstract: | The first step of cytogenetic analysis of Drosophila melanogaster chromosome 2 44F-45D containing the radiosensitivity gene rad(2)201 is described. Using various mutation selection systems as well as lines of different origin and two kinds of ionizing radiation--gamma-rays and neutrons--the mutagenesis in the region of interest is characterized at the cytogenetic level. 85 gamma-induced mutations affecting viability were isolated in the 44F 2-4; 45C6-7 interval, 27% of mutations being chromosomal aberrations. 15 radiation-induced aberrations were obtained by selecting mutations at the white gene inserted into the 45D region by P-mediated transformation. The 44F-45D region is characterized by relatively low frequency of deficiency formation and by significant predomination of heterochromatic aberrations in the spectrum of rearrangements. In these regions, the existence of hot spots for heterochromatic aberrations was discovered. As low deletion frequency is not connected with the presence of haplolethal and haplosterile loci in the region studied, the unusual character of radiation mutagenesis reflects possibly the peculiarities in sequence organization of the chromosomal region mentioned or the packaging in the sperm nuclei. |
