ISOZYMES OF CULEX P. FATIGANS. III. GENETICS OF LEUCINE-AMINO-PEPTIDASE

Abstract

Zymograms of leucine-amino-peptidases (LAP) of the mosquito Culex pipiens fatigans Wiedemann (C. p. quinquefasciatus) showed 20 isozyme bands in the fourth instar larvae, 13 in the pupae and 3 in the older adults. Homozygous strains of Lap-1F (Fast) and Lap-IS (Slow) were isolated and linkage studies carried out. Lap-1F and Lap-1S allozymes act as codominant alleles, are sex linked and are located in linkage group I. The gene sequence is e-M-mar-Lap-1 (eye-gap, sex, maroon-eye, leucine-amino-peptidase-1), and the linkage distances in the M-mar and mar-Lap-1 segments are 22.0 and 10.5, respectively. Gene frequency analysis of natural populations from Brazil and Pakistan showed the S allele was more frequent in the Brazilian populations whereas F was more frequent in the Pakistani populations. Fixation of F allele had occurred in two Pakistani populations.