Linkage of two enzyme loci in fishes of the genus Xiphophorus (Poeciliidae). Guanylate kinase-2 (GUK2) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase-1 (GAPD1) designated as linkage group III

Abstract

Electrophoretic variation ascribable to two enzyme loci, coding for a guanylate kinase (GUK2) and a glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPD1), was observed in three species of fishes of the genus Xiphophorus. Electrophoretic patterns in F1 hybrid heterozygotes suggested a monomeric subunit structure for GUK2 and confirmed a tetrameric structure for GAPD1. Variant alleles at the two loci exhibited normal Mendelian segregation in backcross hybrids. Linkage analyses indicate estimated recombination of GUK2-7.6 percent-GAPD 1. This group (designated linkage group III) was shown to assort independently from the 7 loci comprising linkage groups I and II and from 26 other informative markers, within the limits of the data. Difficulties inherent in establishing homology with linkage groups in other species in cases involving presumed gene duplication are discussed.