Adh locus in maize for detection of mutagens in the environment

The advantages of the maize Adh system for low level mutagenesis studies are discussed. They include high mutation rate and the availability of both a strong selection system for null mutants and a sensitive method for detection of variants. The null selection involves treatment of pollen with allyl alcohol which is converted by the Adh enzyme to the toxic acrylaldehyde. Adh variants can be detected by alteration in affinity for phytic acid as well as thermal stability and electrophoretic mobility.