Specific induction of the hsr omega locus of Drosophila melanogaster by amides.

We report here that 3-aminobenzamide and other amides, such as formamide, acetamide and nicotinamide, specifically induce a high rate of transcription at the 93D puff (the hsr omega heat shock gene) in polytene chromosomes of Drosophila melanogaster. Other chemicals, such as benzamide, colchicine, thiamphenicol and paracetamol, that are already known to specifically induce transcription at the hsr omega locus are also identified as amides. In view of the specific induction of the 93D puff by different amides and other data that demonstrate hsr omega transcription in response to benzamide and colchicine etc. to be independent of its heat shock induction, it appears likely that amides induce this locus through distinct regulatory elements that we propose to designate amide response elements (AREs).