Population genetics of Drosophila amylase. IV. Selection in laboratory populations maintained on different carbohydrates. 1983

J R Powell, and M Andjelković

Two polymorphic systems impinging on alpha-amylase in Drosophila pseudoobscura have been studied in laboratory populations maintained on medium in which the only carbohydrate source was starch (the substrate of amylase) and replicas maintained on medium in which the only carbohydrate source was maltose (the product of amylase). The two polymorphic systems were alleles at the structural gene (Amy) coding for the enzyme (allozymes) and variation in the tissue-specific expression along the adult midgut controlled by several genes. In the seven populations on maltose medium little consistent change was noted in either system. In the seven populations on starch medium, both polymorphisms exhibited selective changes. A midgut pattern of very limited expression of amylase rose in frequency in all starch populations, as did the frequency of the "fast" (1.00) Amy allele. The overall specific amylase activity did not differ between starch-adapted and maltose-adapted flies.--The results, along with previous studies, indicate that when a gene-enzyme system is specifically stressed in laboratory populations, allozymes often exhibit selective differences. Such results make the selectionist hypothesis at least tenable. Furthermore, the fact that both types of polymorphisms responded to selection indicates the role of structural gene vs. gene regulation changes in adaptive evolution is not an either/or question but one of relative roles and interactions.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007527 Isoenzymes Structurally related forms of an enzyme. Each isoenzyme has the same mechanism and classification, but differs in its chemical, physical, or immunological characteristics. Alloenzyme,Allozyme,Isoenzyme,Isozyme,Isozymes,Alloenzymes,Allozymes
D008297 Male Males
D008320 Maltose A dextrodisaccharide from malt and starch. It is used as a sweetening agent and fermentable intermediate in brewing. (Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed)
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
D005260 Female Females
D005787 Gene Frequency The proportion of one particular in the total of all ALLELES for one genetic locus in a breeding POPULATION. Allele Frequency,Genetic Equilibrium,Equilibrium, Genetic,Allele Frequencies,Frequencies, Allele,Frequencies, Gene,Frequency, Allele,Frequency, Gene,Gene Frequencies
D005796 Genes A category of nucleic acid sequences that function as units of heredity and which code for the basic instructions for the development, reproduction, and maintenance of organisms. Cistron,Gene,Genetic Materials,Cistrons,Genetic Material,Material, Genetic,Materials, Genetic
D000483 Alleles Variant forms of the same gene, occupying the same locus on homologous CHROMOSOMES, and governing the variants in production of the same gene product. Allelomorphs,Allele,Allelomorph
D000516 alpha-Amylases Enzymes that catalyze the endohydrolysis of 1,4-alpha-glycosidic linkages in STARCH; GLYCOGEN; and related POLYSACCHARIDES and OLIGOSACCHARIDES containing 3 or more 1,4-alpha-linked D-glucose units. Taka-Amylase A,alpha-Amylase,Alpha-Amylase Bayer,Maxilase,Mégamylase,alpha-1,4-D-Glucanglucanohydrolase,Alpha Amylase Bayer,AlphaAmylase Bayer,Taka Amylase A,TakaAmylase A,alpha 1,4 D Glucanglucanohydrolase,alpha Amylase,alpha Amylases
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

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