GENETICS OF GLOSSINA MORSITANS MORSITANS (DIPTERA: GLOSSINIDAE): II. ELECTROPHORETIC BANDING PATTERNS OF MIDGUT ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE

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Abstract
The digestive section of the midgut of Glossina morsitans morsitans Westwood contains a phosphatase with a pH optimum of approximately 9.2 and with low substrate specificity; the enzyme was classified as an alkaline phosphatase (E.C. 3.1.3.1). Polyacrylamide gel (6%) electrophoresis (at pH 8.9) of the digestive portion of the midguts of adult G. morsitans morsitans revealed three alkaline phophatase phenotypes. Midgut phosphatase was postulated to be under control of a single locus (designated alkph) with two alleles. Gene frequencies were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in two laboratory populations while a third, highly inbred population had only one phenotype. Phenotype frequencies were not significantly different among females of various ages from the Edmonton colony. Breeding experiments provided direct evidence for single locus control of midgut phosphatase.