Biochemical differences between products of the ADH locus in olive fruit fly (Bactrocera oleae)

Purified alcohol dehydrogenases from olive fruit flies of genotypes SS, II, and SI were biochemically compared. The enzymes were found to differ in the specific activity, in the influence of pH and temperature on activity, and in the affinity with different substrate-alcohols. The probable relationships of these findings with the dramatic changes in allele frequencies observed when natural populations are introduced in the laboratory are discussed.