Enzyme variation in theAnopheles gambiaeGiles group of species (Diptera: Culicidae)

Abstract

AbstractThe genotypes of chromosomally-identified individuals from natural populations of the known species of the group ofAnopheles gambiaeGiles were scored for the enzyme protein structural loci coding for adenylate kinase (Adk), α-naphthyl acetate esterase (Est-1, Est-2, Est-3), glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (Got), α-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase (αGpd), hexokinase (Hk), isocitric dehydrogenase (Idh), lactic dehydrogenase (Ldh), ‘leucine’ aminopeptidase (Lap-2), malic enzyme (Me), octanol dehydrogenase (Odh), phosphoglucomutase (Pgm-1, Pgm-2), 6-phosphogluconic dehydrogenase (6-Pgd), phosphohexose isomerase (Phi) and superoxide dismutase (Sod), following starch gel electrophoresis. In the material examined,Est-1, Est-2, Est-3, Got, ldh, Lap-2, Odh, Pgm-1, Pgm-2andSodwere segregating for two or more alleles; unique alleles at theEst-1, GotandSodloci produced species-specific phenotypes inA. melas(Theo.), species C and species D, respectively. The further sampling ofA. merusDön, populations supported the presence of a unique SOD phenotype by which this species can also be identified. Of the other enzyme systems examined, no activity following electrophoresis was detected for aldolase and fructose-1,6-diphosphatase, and the resolution of acid and alkaline phosphatase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, malic dehydrogenase and xanthine dehydrogenase was too poor under the particular electrophoretic conditions for genetic analyses of the enzyme phenotypes.