Variation in an intron sequence of the voltage-gated sodium channel gene correlates with genetic differentiation between Anopheles gambiae s.s. molecular forms.
We present the results of a geographical survey of genetic variation in Anopheles gambiae M and S molecular forms from ten African countries at Intron I of the voltage-gated sodium channel gene. We found two major haplotypes separated by a single mutational step, which cosegregate almost completely with the rDNA sites that identify M and S, consistent with previous estimates of strong reductions of gene flow between the two forms. We also report ten additional haplotypes stemming from the two major haplotypes, mostly present in single localities. The low levels of genetic variation found in this intronic region are discussed in light of a possible selective sweep. These findings offer additional elements to the ongoing debate on the amount of genetic differentiation and isolation between the two molecular forms and on their taxonomic status.
Sezione di Parassitologia, Dipartimento di Scienze di Sanità Pubblica, Rome, Italy.
G
G
Gentile
F
F
Santolamazza
C
C
Fanello
V
V
Petrarca
A
A
Caccone
A
A
della Torre
D000349:Africa; D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D005843:Geography; D006239:Haplotypes / Q000235:genetics; D007438:Introns; D007621:Karyotyping; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000235:genetics*; D013045:Species Specificity
D017931:DNA Primers; D015222:Sodium Channels