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Natural selection at the α-GDH locus in Drosophila

Nature volume 269, pages 144–145 (1977)Cite this article

Abstract

THE molecular basis for the maintenance of a gene–enzyme polymorphism in natural populations of Drosophila melanogaster has been reported1. The locus under analysis codes for the subunit of α-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase, (α-GDH; E.C. 1.1.1.8) a homodimeric enzyme: the primary function of this enzyme in adult muscle is to provide metabolic energy during flight2–7, and these alleles showed both spatial and temporal variations in frequency. A latitudinal cline was identified, in which the frequency of the α-GDHS allele decreases southwards along the eastern US coast8. The α-GDHS allele was also found to increase in frequency during cooler months in several New England populations6. We evaluated several biochemical parameters using partially purified enzyme from the three common genotypes and uncovered temperature-dependent differences in Km, specific activity, and reaction rate constancy1. Based on the population and biochemical data an argument was provided that environmental temperature was operating as a selective agent in demanding the relative frequencies of the two alleles at this metabolically important locus. We present here additional evidence to support this proposal, based on an evolutionary pattern of coincidence.

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Author notes

  1. STAMATIS ALAHIOTIS

    Present address: Genetics Department, University of Patras, Greece

  2. STEVE MILLER

    Present address: Genetics Department, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biology Department, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, 03755

    STAMATIS ALAHIOTIS, STEVE MILLER & EDWARD BERGER

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  1. STAMATIS ALAHIOTIS
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ALAHIOTIS, S., MILLER, S. & BERGER, E. Natural selection at the α-GDH locus in Drosophila. Nature 269, 144–145 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1038/269144a0

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