Developmental and mitotic behaviour of two novel groups of nuclear envelope antigens of Drosophila melanogaster.

Two novel groups of nuclear envelope antigens have been identified using monoclonal antibodies. On immunoblots the antigens correspond to distinct sets of polypeptides in the 175 X 10(3) molecular weight range. The antigens are enriched in a nuclear matrix-pore complex-lamina fraction of Drosophila tissue culture cells. We have studied the cellular distribution of these antigens throughout oogenesis and early embryo development. Immunoblots show that one group of the 175 X 10(3) Mr antigens is maternally transmitted to the embryo. This had already been observed for the 74/76 X 10(3) Mr Drosophila lamins described previously, and we showed that a large proportion of the lamins is localized in the interior of the oocyte nucleus. We have also followed the fate of the high molecular weight antigens during mitosis. Each of the antigens uses a different pathway for its distribution to the daughter nuclei. These observations may give clues to the molecular mechanisms involved in the disassembly-reassembly process of the nuclear envelope.