Open AccessANALYSIS OF Y-LINKED MUTATIONS TO MALE STERILITY IN DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER
Author(s) -
James A. Kennison
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
genetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.792
H-Index - 246
eISSN - 1943-2631
pISSN - 0016-6731
DOI - 10.1093/genetics/103.2.219
Subject(s) - autosome , biology , chromosomal translocation , genetics , sterility , drosophila melanogaster , complementation , x chromosome , chromosome , sperm , y chromosome , ethyl methanesulfonate , microbiology and biotechnology , mutant , gene
The frequencies of newly induced male-sterilizing lesions on both the X and Y chromosomes of Drosophila melanogaster were determined after either 4000 r of gamma-irradiation or adult feeding of ethyl methanesulfonate. The Y chromosome is approximately twice as sensitive as the X chromosome to newly induced male-sterilizing lesions after gamma-irradiation, but slightly less sensitive after ethyl methanesulfonate treatment. A large proportion of the radiation-induced lesions are associated with Y-autosome or X-autosome translocations, with the Y chromosome recovered in translocations far in excess of the frequency expected from metaphase lengths. Although translocations between the X and Y chromosomes or between autosomes do not appear to sterilize heterozygous males, interchanges between sex chromosomes and autosomes often sterilize males carrying them in a dominant manner, suggesting that the organization of the genome is critical for normal spermatogenesis. Complementation tests between recessive Y-linked male-sterilizing mutants do not reveal the existence of any additional fertility loci beyond the six previously defined.