Studies on the Ribosomal RNA Cistrons in Interspecific Drosophila Hybrids. II. Heterochromatic Regions Mediating Nucleolar Dominance

Interspecific hybrids of D. melanogaster and D. simulans normally exhibit a secondary constriction only at the D. melanogaster nucleolus organizer (NO). This phenomenon, termed nucleolar dominance, occurs only when the NO-bearing sex chromosomes of both species are present in conjunction. Experiments were initiated to localize regions on the sex chromosomes of D. melanogaster involved in mediating this suppression. Sex chromosome heterochromatic rearrangements and deficiencies were introduced into F₁ hybrids and their corresponding effect on simulans NO constriction formation was examined in hybrid mitotic neuroblast tissue. Sex chromosomes deficient for both the D. melanogaster NO and adjacent heterochromatin were unable to restrict the formation of a constriction at the D. simulans NO. The presence of a D. melanogaster NO, however, was not sufficient for the establishment of nucleolar dominance. Results from an array of NO-bearing X and Y chromosome rearrangements and deficiencies indicate that at least one heterochromatic region, proximal to the NO on the D. melanogaster X and distal to the NO on the D. melanogaster Y, affects the induction of this interchromosomal phenomenon.