Regulation of the tissue specificity of an enzyme by a cis-acting genetic element: evidence from interspecific Drosophila hybrids.

Abstract

Homologous genes for alcohol dehydrogenase (alcohol:NAD+ oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.1) are expressed in qualitatively different patterns during the development of 2 closely related species of Hawaiian [USA] Drosophila [D. grimshawi and D. orthofascia]. In interspecific hybrids, each parental structural allele is expressed according to the developmental program characteristic of the species from which it is derived. This provides strong evidence for a cis-acting control element.