Distributions of polymorphisms among pathways of carbohydrate metabolism in the earthworm Eisenia fetida (Oligochaeta).
1. Activities and genetic banding patterns of 36 isozymes in carbohydrate metabolism were detected by spectrophotometry and starch-gel electrophoresis, respectively, in the earthworm Eisenia fetida. 2. Polymorphisms were not distributed randomly among metabolic pathways, activity levels, or gene copy numbers. 3. In glycolysis and the Krebs cycle, 16% of the loci were polymorphic and polymorphisms occurred only when multiple copies of the loci existed. 4. In other pathways, 45% of the loci were polymorphic and the distribution of polymorphisms was independent of gene copy number. 5. Polymorphisms may affect metabolic phenotypes and natural selection may have led to conserved biochemical activity in glycolysis and the Krebs cycle.
Diehl
W J
WJ
Department of Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University, MS 39762.
Williams
D L
DL
D000818:Animals; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D002952:Citric Acid Cycle; D006019:Glycolysis; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic