Genetics and ontogeny of alcohol dehydrogenase isozymes in the mouse: evidence for a cis-acting regulator gene (Adt-i) controlling C2 isozyme expression in reproductive tissues and close linkage of Adh-3 and Adt-i on chromosome 3.

An electrophoretic variant previously reported for the stomach isozyme of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH-C2) in inbred strains of Mus musculus (Holmes, 1977) has been used to localize the gene encoding this enzyme (Adh-3) on chromosome 3 near Va (varitint) (9.6 +/- 3.6% recombinants). Genetic variation of ADH-C2 activity in male and female reproductive tissues among inbred strains and Harwell linkage testing stocks was also observed. Reproductive tissue ADH-C2 phenotypes were inherited in a normal Mendelian fashion among F2 progeny of an F1 (LII x C57BL/Go) x C57BL/Go backcross as though controlled by a single cis-acting regulator locus (designated Adt-1) with two alleles: Adt-1a (presence of ADH-C2) and Adt-1b (absence or low activity of ADH-C2). No recombinants were observed among 73 progeny or among 13 inbred strains and six Harwell linkage testing stocks of mice, indicating that Adh-3 and Adt-1 are closely linked or identical genes. A single recombinant phenotype was observed in Peru-Coppock mice, suggesting that they are separate genes. Ontogenetic analyses demonstrated that ADH-B2 is present throughout development from late fetal stages in stomach, liver, and kidney; similar results were found for ADH-C2 in developing kidney and stomach extracts, whereas ADH-A2 exhibited high activity in liver extracts after 3 weeks of age in both sexes and in male kidney extracts after 6 weeks.