Transcriptional analyses of the uncoordinated region of Drosophila melanogaster

RNA blotting experiments reveal that a genomic region encompassing the uncoordinated complementation group of Drosophila melanogaster produces two classes of transcripts. The first class contains five polyadenylated RNAs, of 4.35, 8.7, 9.0, 11.5, and 13.0 kb, and the second class contains a transcript of 7.3 kb that can be detected in both the total cellular and the poly(A)+ fractions. Transcripts of the first class are found predominantly in the early larval, pupal, and adult life stages, whereas the 7.3-kb species is present throughout the life cycle and is also found in the heads of adult flies. The two classes of RNAs derive from different combinations of exons. Analyses of RNAs derived from genotypes that are deficient for the uncoordinated complementation group and from seven uncoordinated mutant alleles support the suggestion that the uncoordinated gene (unc) has been isolated and encodes the multiple transcripts.