Biochemical analyses of natural and induced null variants of Drosophila enzymes

J Biol Chem. 1979 Jul 25;254(14):6375-81.

Abstract

For the characterization of null mutants identified in Drosophila populations, several Drosophila enzymes including alcohol dehydrogenase, cytoplasmic malate dehydrogenase, alpha-glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase, and phosphoglucose isomerase were co-purified to homogeneity using an 8-(6-aminohexyl)-amino-ATP-Sepharose affinity column followed by DEAE-Sepharose column chromatography. Mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase was purified by the use of CM-Sepharose and the same ATP affinity column. Alcohol dehydrogenase and alpha-glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase were mapped on a two-dimensional gel. Antiserum was raised in rabbits against these Drosophila enzymes. The presence of cross-reacting material in null mutants was characterized by double immunodiffusion, immunoelectrophoresis, and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. By immunological techniques, two natural null variants of malic enzyme and one of phosphoglucose isomerase were shown to be negative to cross-reacting material. Two low-dose-rate gamma-radiation-induced null mutants of cytoplasmic malate dehydrogenase were shown to be positive to cross-reacting material. Two-dimensional gel analyses enabled the characterization of three natural null variants of alpha-glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase. The viability of some null mutants with homozygous null or null/deficiency genotypes is discussed in terms of the in vivo metabolic roles of the related enzymes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Alcohol Oxidoreductases / genetics*
  • Alcohol Oxidoreductases / isolation & purification
  • Animals
  • Drosophila melanogaster / enzymology*
  • Drosophila melanogaster / genetics
  • Genetic Variation*
  • Glucose-6-Phosphate Isomerase / genetics*
  • Glucose-6-Phosphate Isomerase / isolation & purification
  • Glycerolphosphate Dehydrogenase / genetics*
  • Glycerolphosphate Dehydrogenase / isolation & purification
  • Immunodiffusion
  • Immunoelectrophoresis
  • Malate Dehydrogenase / genetics*
  • Malate Dehydrogenase / isolation & purification
  • Mutation

Substances

  • Alcohol Oxidoreductases
  • Glycerolphosphate Dehydrogenase
  • Malate Dehydrogenase
  • Glucose-6-Phosphate Isomerase