Genetic control of hexokinase variation in insects

Hexokinase variation in insects appears to be under the control of a single locus in some species and under multiple-locus control in others. It is often difficult to distinguish the number of loci controlling hexokinase expression. Analysis of hexokinase electrophoretic patterns in six species of mosquitoes and five species of crickets, as well as a review of hexokinase variation in other insect species, is used to emphasize the importance of interspecific comparisons when making genetic inferences. Evidence is provided which adds support for multiple hexokinase loci in dipterans. Hexokinase control by multiple loci may be difficult to determine in some species because of tight linkage, disequilibrium, and/or posttranslational modification.This work was supported by NIH Grant AI 11132-09, NSF Grant DEB-7811188, and Yale Sesil Anonymous Funds.