Transcriptional and translational study of the Drosophila subobscura hsp83 gene in normal and heat-shock conditions

Abstract

In this paper we report a transcriptional and translational study of the hsp83 gene of Drosophila subobscura. This gene is located at the 18C region of the J chromosome. A monoclonal antibody raised against hsp83 was used for the immunological detection of this protein by Western blotting throughout the development of D. subobscura in control and heat-shock conditions. Our results indicate that puff 18C is not only heat-shock inducible but is also expressed during normal development and its level of expression increases at the end of the prepupa period. We detected hsp83 at normal temperatures, in particular developmental stages with the exception of the larval and the beginning of prepupa formation. Hsp83 was induced by heat shock in all stages studied with the exception of 1st instar larvae. We found that temperatures in excess of 26 °C were sufficient to induce hsp83. In addition, at temperatures from 26 to 34 °C, the increase in hsp83 synthesis was accompanied by increased transcription of the hsp83 gene; this positive correlation was not observed at 37 °C.Key words: Drosophila subobscura, hsp83, heat-shock genes, immunoblotting.