Characterization of third chromosome dominant α-methyl dopa resistant mutants (Tcr) and their interactions with l(2)amd α-methyl dopa hypersensitive alleles in Drosophila melanogaster

• Published in: Genetical Research Vol. 54; no. 2; pp. 93 - 99
• Main Authors: Bishop, Clifton P., Sherald, Allen F., Wright, Theodore R. F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.10.1989
• Subjects: Alleles; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; chromosome number; Chromosomes; Classical genetics, quantitative genetics, hybrids; dihydroxyphenylalanine; Diptera; Drosophila; Drosophila melanogaster; Drosophila melanogaster - genetics; Drug Resistance; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genes, Dominant; Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution; hypersensitivity; interactions; Invertebrata; Male; Methyldopa - pharmacology; mutants; Mutation; Genetic mapping; Heterozygozity; Gene interaction; Insecta; Cuticle; Lethal character; Catecholamine; Metabolism; Survival; Drosophilidae; Allele; Dominance recessiveness; Sensitivity resistance; Arthropoda; Complementation; Invertebrata; Dopa; Drosophila melanogaster; Diptera
• ISSN: 0016-6723; 1469-5073
• DOI: 10.1017/S0016672300028469

In Drosophila melanogaster two alleles at the Third chromosome resistance locus (Tcr; 3–39·6) were isolated in a screen of EMS mutagenized third chromosomes for dominant resistance to dietary α-methyl dopa, α-MD, a structural analogue of DOPA. Both alleles of Tcr are recessive lethals exhibiting partial complementation. Almost half (48·3%) of the Tcr40 / Tcr45 heterozygotes die as embryos but some survive past adult eclosion. Both the embryonic lethal phenotype and the adult phenotype suggest that Tcr is involved in cuticle synthesis. Tcr mutants suppress the lethality of partially complementing alleles at the α-MD hypersensitive locus, l(2)amd. The viability of Tcr40 / Tcr45, however, is not increased by the presence of a l(2)amd allele. The possibility that the Tcr and l(2)amd mutations reveal a catecholamine metabolic pathway involved in cuticle structure is discussed.