Rapidly labeled proteins on the salivary gland chromosomes of Drosophila melanogaster

Experiments on short-term and pulse-chase labeling of chromosome proteins of the salivary glands of Drosophila melanogaster show unique patterns of label in the vicinity of chromosome puffs. A high turnover rate is indicated for these nonhistone proteins, which appear to form a fibrous sheath around the chromosomes. Acrylamide gel analyses of the chromosomal proteins that are quickly labeled, comparing compositions at different stages of development with compositions after heat shock, show that all are different and dependent on which chromosomal puffs are active and producing messenger RNA. The necessity for a continuous and rapid interchange of protein between the nucleus and cytoplasm is indicated, and it appears that regulation of gene activity must be related to this dynamic state of protein exchange. From the technical standpoint, it has been found that scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is especially useful for observing silver grains on opaque autoradiographs. It appears also that SEM will prove useful in a variety of studies of chromosome structure.