Genetics - Theses
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ItemA sex-influenced protein in Chironomus: detection and characterization(University of Melbourne, 1984)The synthesis of a protein in Chironomus was indicated to be sex-influenced by its female-specific occurrence detected electrophoretically in a range of geographically distinct species. These species included Ch. tentans derived from Canada, Ch. duplex from Australia and Ch. species a from New Zealand. The sex-influenced protein was found to contain two subunits of similar molecular weight at approximately 17,800 dal tons. By virtue of its positive staining with benzidine, this protein was indicated to be one of the haemochironomins, a class of predominant haemolymph proteins synthesized during the larval stage. The presence of this sex- influenced protein in the female haemolymph was correlated to the stages of development. It was found to be absent in haemolymph of the female fourth instar larvae younger than phase 3 in Ch. tentans and phase 5 in Ch. duplex. It was present throughout the later phases and persisted in the haemolymph of the female pupa. Tissue distribution studies indicated that the sex-influenced protein was found solely in the haemolymph in the female larva. However, pupal ovaries containing yolky oocytes as well as adult eggs were indicated electrophoretically to contain the sex-influenced protein. An additional and reliable method for identifying the sex-influenced protein in female larval haemolymph and in eggs of the various species was based on the criterion of antigenic specificity to an antiserum raised against the protein isolated in the present study. The results suggested that the female-specific synthesis of the sex-influenced protein may be correlated to. female-specific requirement for it in egg formation.