Electron microscope investigation of polytene chromosomes in the Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata

Ultrastructural analyses of polytene chromosomes from male pupal orbital bristle cells and from larval salivary glands of Ceratitis capitata were carried out. It was shown that chromatin complexes corresponding to the X chromosome heterochromatic network are surrounded by material containing ribonucleoprotein (RNP) granules 250-300 A (1 A = 0.1 nm) in diameter. RNP granules of similar size surround the spherical Y chromosome. These data point out the presence of transcriptional activity in both of these chromosomes. The absence of clear structure in chromosomal regions situated between large bands in both types of tissues was observed. These results support the hypothesis of weak synapsis between chromatids or small chromomeres of polytene chromosomes in this species. In addition, we describe a specific puff revealed in both orbital trichogen cells and salivary glands that is morphologically similar to the 93D puff of Drosophila melanogaster.