CIRCULAR DNA MOLECULES IN THE GENUS DROSOPHILA

1 The Institute for Cancer Research, Fox Chase, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19111

The satellite DNA's from the embryos of five species of Drosophila (D. melanogaster, D. simulans, D. nasuta, D. virilis and D. hydei) have been analyzed for the presence of closed circular duplex DNA molecules, as determined by CsCl-EBr gradients. Circular DNA molecules were found in every species but D. melanogaster. Analyses of cell fractions from adult Drosophila and organ fractions from Drosophila larvae show that fractions containing mitochondria are highly enriched in these molecules.

Submitted on May 23, 1972
Revised on July 12, 1972