Genetic analysis of alcohol dehydrogenase isozymes in pearl millet (Pennisetum typhoides)

Pearl millet (Pennisetum typhoides) produces three ADH isozymes, sets I, II, and III, with set III being expressed only in anaerobically treated seeds or seedlings. Variant strains have been identified which produce ADH isozymes with altered electrophoretic mobilities for sets I and II but not for set III activity. Based on genetic analysis of these variants and on dissociation-reassociation experiments, we propose that the three ADH isozymes are dimers of subunits coded by two structural genes, Adh1 and Adh2, with set I being a homodimer specified by Adh1, set III a homodimer specified by Adh2, and set II a heterodimer formed between the products of Adh1 and Adh2.This work was supported by BRSG Grant RR 07080 awarded by the Biomedical Research Grant Program, Division of Research Grants, National Institutes of Health, to D. R. H., and by funds from the Margenroth Endowment to F. B.-B., who is a PHS Research Service Award Trainee in Genetics.