Genetic control of aldehyde oxidase activity and cross-reacting-material in Drosophila melanogaster.

Four different genes are known to affect aldehyde oxidase activity (AO) in Drosophila melanogaster. Mutants at each of these loci eliminate AO activity and simultaneously eliminate detectable AO-crossing reacting material (AO-CRM) even though only one is the structural gene for AO (Aldoxn). The other three genes (cin1, lxd and mal) coordinately "control" the levels of activity of AO and two related enzymes, xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH) and pyridoxal oxidase (PO). Contrary to their effects on AO-CRM, neither of these three mutants eliminate XDH-CRM. A model of interaction of these enzymes and genes controlling their activities is discussed.