Biomaterial Database

Population genetics of Drosophila amylase. I. Genetic control of tissue-specific expression in D. pseudoobscura. 1979

J R Powell, and J M Lichtenfels

Drosophila pseudoobscura is polymorphic for tissue-specific expression of alpha-amylase in adult midguts. This enzyme is encoded by a single locus, Amy, on the third chromosome. In this paper we show: (1) Up to about 12 days post-eclosion, the midgut activity patterns remain stable; after 12 days areas not showing activity previously begin to show activity. Thus, the genes controlling the expression of Amy are temporally acting. (2) Diet affects the quantitative, but not the qualitative, expression of Amy. (3) The expression of Amy in adult midguts is under genetic control. Selection for different frequencies of patterns is possible; realized heritabilities are 0.20 to 0.50. Partial linkage with third chromosome inversions has been demonstrated; the genes or elements controlling Amy expression are not, however, confined to the third chromosome. (4) The genetic elements controlling tissue-specific expression of amylase do not coordinately control the expression of five other "digestive-type" enzymes that were studied.--This polymorphism appears to be analogous to that studied by Abraham and Doane (1978) in D. melanogaster, wherein they have mapped regulatory genes.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007814	Larva	Wormlike or grublike stage, following the egg in the life cycle of insects, worms, and other metamorphosing animals.	Maggots,Tadpoles,Larvae,Maggot,Tadpole
D011110	Polymorphism, Genetic	The regular and simultaneous occurrence in a single interbreeding population of two or more discontinuous genotypes. The concept includes differences in genotypes ranging in size from a single nucleotide site (POLYMORPHISM, SINGLE NUCLEOTIDE) to large nucleotide sequences visible at a chromosomal level.	Gene Polymorphism,Genetic Polymorphism,Polymorphism (Genetics),Genetic Polymorphisms,Gene Polymorphisms,Polymorphism, Gene,Polymorphisms (Genetics),Polymorphisms, Gene,Polymorphisms, Genetic
D011679	Pupa	An inactive stage between the larval and adult stages in the life cycle of INSECTA.	Chrysalis,Pupae
D004032	Diet	Regular course of eating and drinking adopted by a person or animal.	Diets
D004330	Drosophila	A genus of small, two-winged flies containing approximately 900 described species. These organisms are the most extensively studied of all genera from the standpoint of genetics and cytology.	Fruit Fly, Drosophila,Drosophila Fruit Flies,Drosophila Fruit Fly,Drosophilas,Flies, Drosophila Fruit,Fly, Drosophila Fruit,Fruit Flies, Drosophila
D000681	Amylases	A group of amylolytic enzymes that cleave starch, glycogen, and related alpha-1,4-glucans. (Stedman, 25th ed) EC 3.2.1.-.	Diastase,Amylase
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D014018	Tissue Distribution	Accumulation of a drug or chemical substance in various organs (including those not relevant to its pharmacologic or therapeutic action). This distribution depends on the blood flow or perfusion rate of the organ, the ability of the drug to penetrate organ membranes, tissue specificity, protein binding. The distribution is usually expressed as tissue to plasma ratios.	Distribution, Tissue,Distributions, Tissue,Tissue Distributions