Nucleotide metabolism in Drosophila melanogaster salivary glands during temperature and dinitrophenol-induced puffing.

When Drosophila melanogaster salivary glands are exposed to temperature or dinitrophenol (DNP) treatments, their nucleotide metabolism is altered such that the amount of cellular ATP decreases, whereas the amount of ADP increases. Since both treatments also elicit specific puffing patterns on the salivary gland chromosome, it is suggested that specific loci on the chromosome are activated to form puffs when the efficiency of respiration decreases. The possible relationship between the formation of these puffs and the intramitochondrial metabolism is discussed.