Analysis of l-glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase mutants in Drosophila melanogaster: complementation for intracellular degradation of the mutant polypeptide.

Null and low activity alleles at the genetic locus coding for L-Glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (alpha-GPDH, NAD+ oxidoreductase, E.C. 1.1.1.8) in Drosophila melanogaster have been analyzed by a combination of rocket immunoelectrophoresis, interallelic complementation, and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. In addition to proving information on the molecular weight, charged state, and steady state level of CRM in each of these mutants, it is suggested that each mutation has resulted in a genetic lesion within the structural element, Gpdh+. CRM levels appear to be the result of differential sensitivity to the normal intracellular degradative process and the CRM- mutants represent "hypersensitive" alleles, such that the mutant polypeptide does not accumulate in the intracellular environment.