Mechanism of suppression in Drosophila. V. Localization of the purple mutant of Drosophila melanogaster in the pteridine biosynthetic pathway

Journal Article · Fri Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1976 · Biochem. Genet.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00484463· OSTI ID:6934904

Wilson, T G; Jacobson, K B

The suppressible eye color mutant purple (pr) of Drosophila melanogaster is known to be unable to synthesize a wild-type complement of pteridine eye pigments. This study measures the reduced levels of drosopterins, sepiapterin, and an unidentified presumed pteridine in pr and pr/sup bw/. Pteridine analyses in double mutants combining pr with one of three other eye color mutants sepia, Henna-recessive/sup 3/, and prune/sup 2/, suggest that the metabolic block in pr occurs prior to sepiapterin biosynthesis. Measurements of GTP and GTP cyclohydrolase in pr showed wild-type levels and indicate the metabolic block in pr to be at one of the steps converting dihydroneopterin triphosphate to sepiapterin. Quantitation of pteridines in suppressed purple (su(s)/sup 2/; pr and pr; su(pr)/sup e3/) shows restoration of pteridines to wild-type or nearly wild-type levels.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN
• OSTI ID: 6934904
• Journal Information: Biochem. Genet.; (United States), Journal Name: Biochem. Genet.; (United States) Vol. 15:3/4; ISSN BIGEB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550400* -- Genetics
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ANIMALS
ARTHROPODS
BIOLOGICAL LOCALIZATION
BIOLOGY
BODY
DROSOPHILA
EYES
FLIES
FRUIT FLIES
GENES
GENETICS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
INHIBITION
INSECTS
INVERTEBRATES
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
MUTANTS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PIGMENTS
PTERIDINES
SENSE ORGANS
SYNTHESIS