An Ecological Study of the Alcohol Dehydrogenase (Adh) Polymorphism of Drosophila Melanogaster.

1980 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 709 ◽  
Author(s):  
JA Mckenzie
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Ecological Study ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Random Processes ◽  
Enzyme Polymorphism ◽  
Quiescent State ◽  
Ecological Data ◽  
Gene Frequencies ◽  
Similar Gene ◽  
Selective Effects

Fluctuations in the numbers of adults of Drosophila melanogaster Mg. in the cellar of a vineyard in Victoria, Australia, were monitored for 5 years. Numbers fluctuated cyclically, from 50 at the end of winter to 100 000 immediately after harvest. Movement within the cellar system was restricted, especially in winter, leading to subpopulations being formed. Overwintering individuals were in a non-breeding quiescent state. These ecological conditions provide considerable potential for random processes. However, such effects did not seem of importance in the maintenance of the Adh polymorphism since concurrent samples in different areas of the cellar had similar gene frequencies, and similar genotypic distributions were observed from year to year in the cellar system as a whole. The relevance of ecological data in distinguishing between random and selective effects acting on enzyme polymorphism in natural populations is emphasised.

scholarly journals Enzyme Polymorphism and Species Discrimination in Fruit Flies of the Genus Dacus (Tephritidae)

1975 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 405 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen W McKechnie
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Dehydrogenase ◽  
Small Proportion ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Enzyme Polymorphism ◽  
Eastern Coast ◽  
Species Discrimination ◽  
Gene Frequencies ◽  
Sympatric Populations ◽  
Hybrid Identification ◽  
Octanol Dehydrogenase

Sympatric populations of D. tryoni and D. neohumeralis are difficult to completely distinguish taxonomically. Using five pigmentation characters, each of some taxonomic value, a small proportion of individuals cannot be assigned to either species nor definitely classified as hybrids. To aid in species discrimination and hybrid identification gene frequencies in natural populations were estimated at three polymorphic protein loci, an alcohol dehydrogenase (Adh), an octanol dehydrogenase (Odh) and an esterase (E-2). Samples of flies were taken from four sites spread over 1200 miles along the Australian eastern coast.

scholarly journals TARGETED SELECTION EXPERIMENTS AND ENZYME POLYMORPHISM: NEGATIVE EVIDENCE FOR OCTANOATE SELECTION AT THE G6PD LOCUS IN DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER

Genetics ◽  
1985 ◽  
Vol 109 (2) ◽  
pp. 379-391
Author(s):  
Walter F Eanes ◽  
Brendan Bingham ◽  
Jody Hey ◽  
David Houle
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Degrees Of Freedom ◽  
Enzyme Polymorphism ◽  
Negative Evidence ◽  
X Chromosomes ◽  
Selection Experiments ◽  
Two Measures ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Positive Results ◽  
Selective Effects

ABSTRACT Published studies have reported significant selection with respect to the G6pd locus for Drosophila melanogaster reared on Na-octanoate food. We have reexamined the selective effects of Na-octanoate on egg to adult viability with respect to the G6pd polymorphism using specially constructed X chromosomes. Four experiments were carried out using different 6Pgd backgrounds in two recombinant sets of chromosomes segregating for the G6pd locus but constructed so as to minimize variation over most of the X chromosome. In addition, two measures of viability were used, and the size of the experiments and their associated degrees of freedom are approximately double those reported in the former studies. Our results find no evidence for differential selection on G6pd genotypes (males and females) by Na-octanoate and, therefore, do not corroborate the positive results of selection reported by other investigators. The reasons for our different results are discussed.

scholarly journals POST-TRANSLATIONAL MODIFICATION AS A POTENTIAL EXPLANATION OF HIGH LEVELS OF ENZYME POLYMORPHISM: XANTHINE DEHYDROGENASE AND ALDEHYDE OXIDASE IN DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER

Genetics ◽  
1979 ◽  
Vol 91 (4) ◽  
pp. 695-722
Author(s):  
Victoria Finnerty ◽  
George Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Aldehyde Oxidase ◽  
Xanthine Dehydrogenase ◽  
Enzyme Polymorphism ◽  
The Body ◽  
Post Translational Modification ◽  
Heritable Variation ◽  
Thermal Stabilities ◽  
Partial Restoration

ABSTRACT Xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH) and aldehyde oxidase (AO) in Drosophila melanogaster require for their activity the action of another unlinked locus, maroon-like (mal), While the XDH and A 0 loci are on chromosome 3, mal maps to the X chromosome. Although functional mal gene product is required for XDH and A 0 activity, it is possible to examine the effects of mutant mal alleles in those cases when pairs of mutants complement to produce a partial restoration of activity. To test whether mal mediates a post-translational modification of the XDH and A0 proteins, we constructed several mal heteroallelic complementing stocks of Drosophila in which the third chromosomes were co-isogenic. Since all lines were co-isogenic for the XDH and A0 structural genes, any variation in these enzymes seen when comparing these stocks must have been produced by post-translational modification by mal. We examined the XDH and A 0 proteins in these stocks by gel-sieving electrophoresis, a procedure that permits independent characterization of a protein's charge and shape, and is capable of discriminating many variants not detected in routine electrophoresis. In every mal heteroallelic combination, there is a significant alteration in protein shape, when compared to wild type. The magnitude of differences in shape of XDH and AO is correlated both with differences in their enzyme activities and with differences in their thermal stabilities. As the body of this variation appears heritable, any functional differences resulting from these variants are of real genetic and evolutionary interest. A similar post-translational modification of XDH and A0 by yet another locus, lxd, was subsequently documented in an analogous manner. The pattern of electrophoretic differences produced by mal and lxd modification is similar to that reported for electrophoretic "alleles" of XDH in natural populations. The implication is that heritable variation in electrophoretic mobility at these two enzyme loci, and potentially at other loci, is not necessarily allelic to the structural gene loci.

scholarly journals LINKAGE DISEQUILIBRIUM IN NATURAL POPULATIONS OF DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER

Genetics ◽  
1974 ◽  
Vol 78 (3) ◽  
pp. 921-936
Author(s):  
Charles H Langley ◽  
Yoshiko N Tobari ◽  
Ken-Ichi Kojima
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Linkage Disequilibrium ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Chromosomal Gene ◽  
Gene Frequencies ◽  
Linkage Disequilibria ◽  
Allozyme Loci ◽  
Two Populations ◽  
Stable Populations

ABSTRACT Two large, stable populations (Texas and Japan) of Drosophila melanogaster were surveyed at 21 allozyme loci on the second and third chromosomes and for chromosomal gene arrangements on those two chromosomes. Over 220 independent gametes were sampled from each population. The types and frequencies of the surveyed genetic variation are similar to those observed previously and suggest only slight differentiation among geographically distant populations. Linkage disequilibrium among linked allozymes loci is only slightly, if at all, detectable with these sample sizes. Linkage disequilibrium between linked inversions and allozymes loci is common especially when located in the same arm. These disequilibria appear to be in the same direction for most comparisons in the two population samples. This result is interpreted as evidence of similar selective environments (ecological and genetic) in the two populations. It is also noted that the direction of these linkage disequilibria appears to be oriented with respect to the gene frequencies at the component loci.

scholarly journals Female Genotypes Affect Sperm Displacement in Drosophila

Genetics ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 149 (3) ◽  
pp. 1487-1493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew G Clark ◽  
David J Begun
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Isogenic Line ◽  
Female Fitness ◽  
Sperm Displacement ◽  
Extensive Variation ◽  
Polymorphic Genes ◽  
Displacement Parameter ◽  
Competitive Success

Abstract Differential success of sperm is likely to be an important component of fitness. Extensive variation among male genotypes in competitive success of sperm in multiply mated females has been documented for Drosophila melanogaster. However, virtually all previous studies considered the female to be a passive vessel. Nevertheless, under certain conditions female fitness could be determined by her role in mediating use of sperm from multiple males. Here we ask whether females differ among genotypes in their tendency to exhibit last-male precedence. Competition of sperm from two tester male genotypes (bwD and B3-09, a third-chromosome isogenic line from Beltsville, MD) was quantified by doubly mating female lines that had been rendered homozygous for X, second, or third chromosomes isolated from natural populations. The composite sperm displacement parameter, P2′, was highly heterogeneous among lines, whether or not viability effects were compensated, implying the presence of polymorphic genes affecting access of sperm to eggs. Genetic variation of this type is completely neutral in the absence of pleiotropy or interaction between variation in the two sexes.

scholarly journals The Regulatory Properties of Autonomous Subtelomeric P Elements Are Sensitive to a Suppressor of variegation in Drosophila melanogaster

Genetics ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 143 (4) ◽  
pp. 1663-1674 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stéphane Ronsseray ◽  
Monique Lehmann ◽  
Danielle Nouaud ◽  
Dominique Anxolabéhère
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Genetic Recombination ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
P Element ◽  
Single Element ◽  
Heterochromatin Protein 1 ◽  
X Chromosomes ◽  
P Elements ◽  
Associated Sequences ◽  
Regulatory Properties

Abstract Genetic recombination was used in Drosophila melanogaster to isolate P elements, inserted at the telomeres of X chromosomes (cytological site 1A) from natural populations, in a genetic background devoid of other P elements. We show that complete maternally inherited P repression in the germline (P cytotype) can be elicited by only two autonomous P elements at 1A and that a single element at this site has partial regulatory properties. The analysis of the surrounding chromosomal regions of the P elements at 1A shows that in all cases these elements are flanked by Telomeric Associated Sequences, tandemly repetitive noncoding sequences that have properties of heterochromatin. In addition, we show that the regulatory properties of P elements at 1A can be inhibited by some of the mutant alleles of the Su(var)205 gene and by a deficiency of this gene. However, the regulatory properties of reference P strains (Harwich and Texas 007) are not impaired by Su(var)205 mutations. Su(var)205 encodes Heterochromatin Protein 1 (HP1). These results suggest that the HP1 dosage effect on the P element properties is sitedependent and could involve the structure of the chromatin.

scholarly journals GENETIC AND BIOCHEMICAL BASIS OF ENZYME ACTIVITY VARIATION IN NATURAL POPULATIONS. I. ALCOHOL DEHYDROGENASE IN DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER

Genetics ◽  
1978 ◽  
Vol 89 (2) ◽  
pp. 371-388
Author(s):  
John F McDonald ◽  
Francisco J Ayala
Keyword(s):  
Gene Regulation ◽  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Alcohol Dehydrogenase ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Difficult Problem ◽  
Regulatory Genes ◽  
Biochemical Basis ◽  
Evolutionary Consequence ◽  
The Third ◽  
Adh Activity

ABSTRACT Recent studies by various authors suggest that variation in gene regulation may be common in nature, and might be of great evolutionary consequence; but the ascertainment of variation in gene regulation has proven to be a difficult problem. In this study, we explore this problem by measuring alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activity in Drosophila melanogaster strains homozygous for various combinations of given second and third chromosomes sampled from a natural population. The structural locus (Adh) coding for ADH is on the second chromosome. The results show that: (1) there are genes, other than Adh, that affect the levels of ADH activity; (2) at least some of these "regulatory" genes are located on the third chromosome, and thus are not adjacent to the Adh locus; (3) variation exists in natural populations for such regulatory genes; (4) the effect of these regulatory genes varies as they interact with different second chromosomes; (5) third chromosomes with high-activity genes are either partially or completely dominant over chromosomes with low-activity genes; (6) the effects of the regulatory genes are pervasive throughout development; and (7) the third chromosome genes regulate the levels of ADH activity by affecting the number of ADH molecules in the flies. The results are consistent with the view that the evolution of regulatory genes may play an important role in adaptation.

scholarly journals GENETIC LOAD IN NATURAL POPULATIONS: IS IT COMPATIBLE WITH THE HYPOTHESIS THAT MANY POLYMORPHISMS ARE MAINTAINED BY NATURAL SELECTION?

Genetics ◽  
1974 ◽  
Vol 77 (3) ◽  
pp. 569-589
Author(s):  
Martin L Tracey ◽  
Francisco J Ayala
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Natural Selection ◽  
Natural Population ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Genetic Load ◽  
Structural Genes ◽  
Invertebrate Species ◽  
Average Proportion ◽  
Mean Fitness ◽  
The Mean

ABSTRACT Recent studies of genetically controlled enzyme variation lead to an estimation that at least 30 to 60% of the structural genes are polymorphic in natural populations of many vertebrate and invertebrate species. Some authors have argued that a substantial proportion of these polymorphisms cannot be maintained by natural selection because this would result in an unbearable genetic load. If many polymorphisms are maintained by heterotic natural selection, individuals with much greater than average proportion of homozygous loci should have very low fitness. We have measured in Drosophila melanogaster the fitness of flies homozygous for a complete chromosome relative to normal wild flies. A total of 37 chromosomes from a natural population have been tested using 92 experimental populations. The mean fitness of homozygous flies is 0.12 for second chromosomes, and 0.13 for third chromosomes. These estimates are compatible with the hypothesis that many (more than one thousand) loci are maintained by heterotic selection in natural populations of D. melanogaster.

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