Cytogenetic and complementation analyses of recessive lethal mutations induced in the X chromosome of Drosophila by three alkylating agents

• Published in: Genetical Research Vol. 24; no. 1; pp. 1 - 10
• Main Authors: Lim, J. K., Snyder, L. A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.08.1974
• Subjects: Alkylating Agents - pharmacology; Animals; Aziridines - pharmacology; Chromosome Aberrations; Chromosome Mapping; Drosophila melanogaster - drug effects; Female; Genes; Genes, Lethal; Genes, Recessive; Male; Mesylates - pharmacology; Mutagens - pharmacology; Mutation; Sex Chromosomes - drug effects; Triethylenemelamine - pharmacology
• ISSN: 0016-6723; 1469-5073
• DOI: 10.1017/S0016672300015020

Salivary-gland chromosomes of 54 methyl methanesulphonate- and 50 triethylene melamine-induced X-chromosome recessive lethals in Drosophila melanogaster were analysed. Two of the lethals induced by the mono-functional agent and 11 of those induced by the polyfunctional agent were found to be associated with detectable aberrations. A complementation analysis was also done on 82 ethyl methanesulphonate- and 34 triethylene melamine-induced recessive lethals in the zeste-white region of the X chromosome. The EMS-induced lethals were found to represent lesions affecting only single cistrons. Each of the 14 cistrons in the region known to mutate to a lethal state was represented by mutant alleles, but in widely different frequencies. Seven of the TEM-induced lethals were associated with deletions, only one of which had both breakpoints within the mapped region. Twenty-six of the 27 mutations in which only single cistrons were affected were mapped to 7 of the 14 known loci. One TEM- and two EMS-induced mutations were alleles representing a previously undetected locus in the zeste-white region.