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Epigenetic changes of idh-nadp isozymes in several Drosophila species

Élgion L.S. Loreto; Alice Kalisz de Oliveira

Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Caixa Postal 1953, 90001 Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil. Send correspondence to A.K.O. The present address of E.L.S.L. is Departamento de Metodologia do Ensino, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, 97100 Santa Maria, RS, Brasil

ABSTRACT

Electrophoretic analysis of different organs and developmental stages of D. melanogaster populations selected for developmental rate showed an epigenetic modification of the IDH-NADP isozyme by a substance detected in the larval alimentary canal. Biochemical tests showed that this was not a proteolytic reaction, and since the isozymes occur^ring in the alimentary canal and in the remaining parts of the larva show differences in optimum pH, we suggest that they may have different functions. The present data represent experimental evidence supporting regulation at the post-synthesis level, and since the same epigenetic modification occurs in different species of the willistoni, melanogaster and mesophragmatica groups of Drosophila, this mechanism seems to be important, as also shown by the fact that it is relatively conserved, at least in the species studied.

Keywords: epigenetic; idh-nadp; Drosophila; species.

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