Population and Biochemical Aspects of D. melanogaster G6PD

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The objective of the planned research is to examine whether there is evidence, reflected in DNA sequences, that natural selection has played a role in the long term evolutionary persistence of two mutant enzyme variants. As a model system that study focuses on the essential metabolic enzyme, glucose-6- phosphate dehydrogenase, in the fly, Drosophila melanogaster. Earlier studies indicated that there are significant differences in the biochemical propoerties associated with the common genetic variants, but it is not clear if these differences contribute to the long-term evolutionary fate of the polymorphism in natural populations. Current advances in the mathematical theory of DNA sequence evolution predict very specific patterns will be associated with genetic polymorphism that have been maintained in populations for long periods of time because of natural selection. This model system presents the opportunity to apply this new theory. Such studies are essential if we are to understand the forces that effect the genetic variation which is ubiquitous in natural populations of all species, including humans, and it will also help us to understand the forces shaping DNA sequence variation.