Asynchronous expression of the alcohol and supernatant malate dehydrogenase loci during Barbus hybrid development (Cypriniformes, Teleostei)

The tissue specificity and ontogeny of supernatant malate dehydrogenase (s-MDH) and alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) are reported for the tiger barb (Barbus tetrazona), the rosy barb (Barbus conchonius) and their reciprocal hybrids. The tissue distribution of s-MDH and ADH isozymes in both species is consistent with spatial profiles reported for other teleosts. The expression of alleles of paternal origin at the s-Mdh-B and Adh loci are delayed in reciprocal hybrids as compared to their expression intraspecifically; suggestive of a low degree of affinity between maternally derived regulatory factors and paternal regulative elements controlling structural gene activation.