2D GENE-EXPRESSION PARAMETERS OF WING IMAGINAL DISC OF DROSOPHILA FORDEVELOPMENTAL ANALYSIS

By using high resolution two-dimensional (2D) gel electrophoresis coup led with computer-analysis we have established a quantitative Drosophi la wing imaginal disc protein database of third instar larvae as a ref erence to be used for comparative purposes in genetic studies. A gener al catalogue integrated by 1,184 S-35-methionine-labelled polypeptides from wing imaginal disc has been obtained. The level of expression fo r all the proteins has been quantitatively determined. The quantitativ e reproducibility of the analysis system has been estimated and all th e controls studied as database reference to interpret the results of e xperiments with mutant discs. One example, corresponding to iro(1) mut ation, has been used to show how some of the changes observed with mut ant discs clearly extend out of the limits defined by the controls. Th is enables us to generate comparative parameters for the study of prol iferation, morphogenesis and differentiation of Drosophila and opens t he possibility of rapidly defining the nature and quantity of changes in patterns of gene expression in developmental genetic studies.