Development of N.K. Koltsov’s Idea about Genetic Organization of Interbands in Drosophila melanogaster Polytene Chromosomes

Abstract—The organization of promoters of developmental gene promoters and promoter of genes necessary for general cellular functions—the “housekeeping” of the cell in the complete genome of Drosophila melanogaster—were studied here for the first time. Using bioinformatic methods, it has been shown that the genes whose promoters are located in the interbands of polytene chromosomes are enriched in functions associated with general cellular processes, while the rest of the genes (approximately half of the Drosophila genome) are associated with highly specialized processes occurring during development. In the promoter zone of the housekeeping genes, four specific motifs were found that can be present in different genes individually or in various combinations. A significant part of interband promoters do not contain identified motifs. The analysis carried out using Gene Ontology showed that certain groups of interband genes containing one motif in promoters or their combinations are characterized by the performance of certain functions.