Tissue-, age-, and stage-specific patterns of protein synthesis during the development of Drosophila melanogaster.

Patterns of polypeptide synthesis in the imaginal and larval tissues of wild-type larvae of different ages have been examined using a one-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autofluorography. Tissue-, age, and stage-specific patterns of polypeptide bands have been observed and characterized. There are one or two bands unique to larval tissues and 13 bands unique to imaginal discs and brain. Each tissue has its own characteristic band pattern. The 160-hr wing disc contains all 13 disc and brain-specific bands plus another eight unique bands. The 160-hr leg disc contains 11 disc- and brain-specific bands plus another six unique bands. The 160-hr eye-antennal disc contains eight disc- and brain-specific bands. There are five bands common to all imaginal tissues at all times but not found in any of the larval tissues. There appears to be a much greater difference between the same tissue at different ages than there is between different tissues at the same age. There is also a marked change in the total body proteins extracted from different developmental stages. Eight (11%) of the bands detected appear to be common to all tissues at all times, while 13 bands (18%) appear to be specific to pairs of imaginal discs. In addition, there are major differences in the patterns observed between pulsed and pulse-chased animals. These results are discussed in relation to the concept of differential gene activity.