Serial polymers in the epidermis of Drosophila melanogaster larvae |
| |
Authors: | F Ritossa |
| |
Affiliation: | Istituto di Genetica, Università di Bari, Italy. |
| |
Abstract: | The paper reports the existence of peculiar polymers (e-polymers) obtained from the epidermis of Drosophila melanogaster larvae. E-polymers result from the assembly of two components held together by alkali-labile bonds. Such components can be separated by CsCl density gradients and by DEAE-cellulose chromatography after controlled alkaline hydrolysis. One of the components contains predominantly neutral sugars and a phenolic substance (S-fraction). The other contains predominantly amino acids, aminosugars and a phenolic substance. This fraction can be visualized as serial multimers of a monomer subunit. It is suggested that e-polymers are continuous tridimensional structures which might have morphogenetic significance. |
| |
Keywords: | |
|
|