Sorbitol dehydrogenase genetics in the mouse: a 'null' mutant in a 'European' C57BL strain

A 'null' activity variant phenotype for sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH) was observed in C57BL/LiA mice and used to examine the genetics of this enzyme. Linkage studies of the locus (Sdh-1) with non-agouti (a) and a biochemical locus encoding liver L-alpha-hydroxyacid oxidase (Hao-1) demonstrated that it is coincident with or closely linked to the structural locus, previously localized on chromosome 2. Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) isozymes were also examined, since the liver A2 isozyme exhibited some activity as a sorbitol dehydrogenase on cellulose acetate zymograms. It is apparent that SDH activity is not 'essential' in this mouse strain.