Growth and cytochrome c oxidase activity in minute mutants of Drosophila

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Abstract
Total soluble protein present in 48‐, 60‐ and 72‐hour larval stages of Drosophila melanogaster was determined for controls and for heterozygotes of the following Minute mutants: M(2)1, M(2)173, M(2)z, M(2)S‐10, M(3)w, M(3)124, M(3)B2, M(3)y and M(3)1. Cytochrome c oxidase activity was also assayed at these stages of development in mitochondria isolated from whole larvae of each genotype. The results indicate that all of these mutants possess a common retardation in the rate of growth throughout the larval period. The different Minutes, however, each had distinctive growth patterns, often characterized by particular lags occurring at specific stages. The concentration of cytochrome c oxidase was not necessarily lowered in conjunction with periods of especially retarded growth, but instead, activity higher than that of the control was frequently found. Only one mutant of those tested, M(2)z, showed a significantly lower concentration of this enzyme.