Effect of 20-hydroxyecdysone on protein synthesis in wing discs ofDrosophila melanogaster.

Full wing disc evagination requires about 10 h of continuous exposure to 20-hydroxyecdysone. The synthesis of two polypeptides is increased when wing discs are subjected to short exposure (4 h) to the hormone, and their synthesis is dependent on hormone. A second group of proteins increased in synthesis only after longer hormonal treatment (12 h); however, the increased synthesis of these proteins can be induced by withdrawing hormone after short exposure. The results of this study are consistent with the model of sequential gene activation by 20-hydroxyecdysone proposed by Ashburner et al. (1974).