Single-Locus Latitudinal Clines and Their Relationship to Temperate Adaptation in Metabolic Genes and Derived Alleles in Drosophila Melanogaster

Abstract

We report a study in Drosophila melanogaster of latitudinal clines for 23 SNPs embedded in 13 genes (Pgi, Gapdh1, UGPase, Pglym78, Pglym87, Eno, Men, Gdh, Sod, Pgk, Mdh1, TreS, Treh) representing various metabolic enzymes. Our samples are from 10 populations spanning latitude from southern Florida to northern Vermont. Three new clines with latitude were detected. These are the amino acid polymorphisms in the NAD-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase (Gdh) and trehalase (Treh) genes, and a silent site polymorphism in the UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase gene (UGPase). The result, when combined with the overall incidence and pattern of reports for six other genes (Adh, Gpdh, Pgm, G6pd, 6Pgd, Hex-C), presents a picture of latitudinal clines in metabolic genes prevalent around the branch point of competing pathways. For six of the seven amino acid polymorphisms showing significant latitudinal clines in North America, the derived allele is the one increasing with latitude, suggesting temperate adaptation. This is consistent with a model of an Afrotropical ancestral species adapting to temperate climates through selection favoring new mutations.

Department(s)

Biological Sciences

Keywords and Phrases

amino acid; glutamate dehydrogenase (NADP); trehalase; uridine triphosphate glucose 1 phosphate uridylyltransferase; 6Pgd gene; adh gene; allele; climate; Drosophila melanogaster; Eno gene; evolutionary adaptation; g6pd gene; Gapdh1 gene; gdh gene; gene; gene locus; gene mutation; genetic polymorphism; Gpdh gene; Hex C gene; latitude; Mdh1 gene; Men gene; nonhuman; North America; Pgi gene; Pgk gene; Pglym78 gene; pgm gene; priority journal; Sod gene; Treh gene; TreS gene; UGPase gene; United States; Adaptation; Physiological; Alleles; Amino Acid Substitution; Animals; Female; Insect Proteins; Male; Mutation; Polymorphism; Genetic; Selection (Genetics); Temperature; Melanogaster

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0016-6731

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2004 Genetics Society of America, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Oct 2004

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