Nuclear proteins in Drosophila melanogaster cells after heat shock and their binding to homologous DNA.

After 5 minutes heat shock at 37 degrees C Drosophila melanogaster Kc-cell nuclear proteins were extracted wit 0.4M NaCl and compared by SDS gel electrophoresis with extracts from cells grown at 25 degrees C. Two proteins (39 000 and 46 000) were only found in heat shock nuclei. Reconstitution with total Drosophila DNA or a DNA fragment from the heat inducible locus 87A/C covalently coupled to sepharose was performed. In the presence of calf thymus competitor DNA these proteins and also others of lower molecular weight showed preferential binding to the homologous DNA.