ISSN:
1573-4927
Keywords:
acetaldehyde
;
alcohol dehydrogenase
;
aldehyde oxidase
;
Drosophila
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Chemistry and Pharmacology
Notes:
Abstract Metabolic utilization and toxicity of acetaldehyde were studied in flies lacking alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), aldehyde oxidase (AO), or both functions. Prior to the experiments, mutant alleles Adh n4 and mal were transferred to the same genetic background by 10 successive backcrosses. By comparison with wild-type flies, various deleterious, pleiotropic effects could be attributed to the mal allele but not to Adh n4 . Of the four genotypes studied (mal, Adh n4 , mal Adh n4 , and wild), all were able to use acetaldehyde as a resource in a similar way. In spite of its high toxicity, acetaldehyde appeared a better resource than ethanol. Flies treated with intermediate acetaldehyde concentrations (around 0.5%) exhibited a very high interindividual heterogeneity which could reflect a physiological adaptation occurring as a consequence of the aldehyde treatment. Toxicity tests showed that ADH-negative flies were more sensitive to acetaldehyde than wild type, but this is most likely explained by the transformation of the aldehyde into alcohol. Our results show that the aldehyde metabolizing enzyme (AME) system in Drosophila is neither ADH nor AO. The existence of an aldehyde dehydrogenase is plausible.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00499628
