Genetic analysis of chromosome region 63 of Drosophila melanogaster.

The salivary chromosome region including cytological division 63 of Drosophila melanogaster was genetically analyzed in order to (1) characterize this previously unstudied region and (2) attempt to isolate mutations in the hsp82 gene. Seven deletions which span this region were isolated, including four which remove the hsp82 gene. A Minute mutation was mapped to this region and this Minute was used to isolate duplications in the 63 region. These duplications map the Minute to 63B8-C1. F2 screens were initiated using deletions which remove the hsp82 gene. Over 15,000 chromosomes were screened, yielding 40 lethal mutations which comprise 14 complementation groups. Several of these mutations map outside the 63 region and appear to give second site interaction with the Minute locus. Four loci, including the Minute gene, are candidates for hsp82 mutations by cytogenetic mapping. These loci were tested for complementation with a P element carrying the hsp82 gene. However, none of the mutations was rescued.