Genetics of an esterase in Aedes aegypti

Zymograms of single individuals of Aedes aegypti were obtained by means of starch gel electrophoresis, using alpha-naphthyl acetate as substrate. Inbred lines gave consistently homogeneous patterns; earlier results from random-breeding laboratory strains had shown considerable variability. Six distinct bands were observed. The furthest moving band, designated Esterase 6, showed differential migration in two inbred lines. Reciprocal crosses between these lines gave F₁ progeny showing both bands. Backcrosses of F₁ to either parental line gave a 1:1 segregation. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the two forms of Esterase 6 are controlled by a single pair of codominant alleles at a single gene locus (Est 6 ^a and Est 6 ^b). Linkage tests with marker genes have demonstrated that Est 6 is on linkage group 2, with the following alignment: spot-abdomen (9.0±1.0) yellow-larva (17.4±1.3) Est 6. Crosses with another inbred line demonstrated a third band with intermediate mobility, designated Est 6 ^c. An additional electrophoretic variant which seems to have a simple Mendelian basis was found in esterase band 1.This work was supported by NIH Research Grant No. A1-02753.