A temperature sensitive mutation that reduces mitotic rate inDrosophila melanogaster

Abstract

A temperature-sensitive cell autonomous mutation ofDrosophila, l(1)ts-1126 (1-16±2), that affects the rate of cell division is described. When mutant animals are exposed to the restrictive temperature of 29°C during the first and second larval stages, the growth rate of the larvae is retarded. A delay in pupariation occurs during which larvae reach their full size, and the resulting flies are normal. When mutant animals are exposed to restrictive temperature during the third larval stage, growth is also retarded but no delay in pupariation occurs, and the resulting flies are reduced in size. Their small size is due in part to a decreased number of cells and in part to a smaller size of the cells.X-ray induced, marked, homozygousl(1)ts-1126 clones in an otherwise normal animal, are smaller in animals exposed to pulses of restrictive temperature when compared to clones in animals kept at permissive temperature of 22°C. Clone size decreases as pulse length increases. Clones on the wing blade induced 24 h after oviposition are smaller than clones induced at 48 h in animals grown at restrictive temperature. This result is interpreted as an inability of the slower dividingl(1)ts-1126 cells to survive when in competition with wildtype cells. The distribution of survivingl(1)ts-1126 clones in gynandromorphs grown at restrictive temperature supports this conclusion.