[The Drosophila melanogaster Adh locus upon selection for delayed aging]

Dynamics of the Adh activity and frequencies of alleles AdhF and AdhS were analyzed under selection for delayed senescence. The experiments were performed on Drosophila melanogaster. Lines AdhS cn and AdhF vg and experimental populations cn and vg, selected for an increased duration of reproductive period (late oviposition) were used. Analysis of fertility, longevity, viability and resistance to starvation showed that selection for late oviposition resulted in delayed senescence of flies of the experimental populations. Genetic structure of population vg changed considerably with regard to the Adh locus. This was confirmed by parameters of activity, thermostability and electrophoretic mobility of the enzyme isolated from flies after 30 generations of selection. Analysis of frequencies of the Adh alleles showed that in both selected populations, which initially had different genetic composition, accumulated allele AdhS, which encodes the isozyme that is less active but more resistant to inactivation. Genetic mechanism of delayed senescence in Drosophila is assumed to involve selection at vitally important enzyme loci, including Adh.