SYNTHESIS AND TRANSFER OF DNA, RNA, AND PROTEIN DURING VITELLOGENESIS IN RHODNIUS PROLIXUS (HEMIPTERA)

Abstract

Histochemical and autoradiographic techniques demonstrated that DNA was synthesized in the nuclei of the ovary, fat body, and midgut. There appeared to be a transfer of some of the DNA in a partially depolymerized form from the ovarian trophic tissues to the growing oocyte. RNA was synthesized in the nuclei of the ovary, fat body, and midgut, and then was transferred to the cytoplasm. Some of the RNA passed from the ovarian trophic tissues to the growing oocyte. Protein was synthesized most actively in the ovarian follicular epithelium, and in the fat body. Newly synthesized protein was transferred from the follicular epithelium to the oocyte. Synthesis of yolk protein by the oocyte itself appeared to be negligible.