Association of the Adh Locus with a lethal factor (1(2)stm) in Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

Keeping Drosophila cultures at 28 C results in elimination of all minor multiple ADH bands, thought to be due to conformational change. Thus in diploid and triploid adults heterozygous for the AdhF and AdhS alleles, relative staining intensities are found for the three bands which were in conformity with the assumption that both alleles are equally expressed. Among all polymorphic strains derived from natural Central European and Mediterranean populations, the strain +Tub is unique in that its AdhF allele is closely linked to a new recessive lethal factor, named 1(2)Stm. All AdhF 1/AdhF 1 pupae are unable to emerge, and die. The lethal effect is obvious 50 hr earlier by retarded eye, bristle, and body wall pigmentation. Although all pupae of the phenotype F die, AdhF allele freqnency scarcely seems to be lowered in this natural population.