Enzyme and Gene Interaction

Gene Interactions
The genes of an individual do not operate isolated from one another, but obviously are
functioning in a common cellular environment. Thus, it is expected interactions between
genes would occur. Bateson and Punnett performed a classical experiment that
demonstrated genetic interactions. They analyzed the three comb types of chicken
known to exist at that time:
Chicken Varieties Phenotype

Wyandotte Rose Comb
Brahmas Pea Comb
Leghorns Single Comb
Rose Pea
Single Walnut
Result: The F1 differed from both parents and two new phenotypes not seen in the
parents appeared in the F2. How can this result be explained? The first clue is the
F2 ratio. We have seen this ratio before when the F1 from a dihybrid cross is selfed (or
intermated). This observation suggests that two genes may control the phenotype of the
comb. The gene interactions and genotypes were determined by performing the
appropriate testcrosses.
A series of experiments demonstrated that the genotypes controlling the various comb
phenotypes are as follows.
Phenotypes Genotypes Frequency

Walnut R_P_ 9/16
Rose R_pp 3/16
Pea rrP_ 3/16
Single rrpp 1/16
It was later shown that the genotypes of the initial parents were:
Rose = RRpp
Pea = rrPP
Therefore, genotypically the cross was:
The development of any individual is obviously the expression of all the genes that are a
part of its genetic makeup. Therefore, it is not an unexpected conclusion that more than
one gene could be responsible for the expression of a single phenotype. We will now
discuss this situation. First let's give a definition.
Epistasis - the interaction between two or more genes to control a single phenotype
The interactions of the two genes which control comb type was revealed because we
could identify and recognize the 9:3:3:1. Other genetic interactions were identified
because the results of crossing two dihybrids produced a modified Mendelian ratio. All
of the results are modifications of the 9:3:3:1 ratio.
Example 1: 15:1 Ratio

Phenotypes: Kernel Color in Wheat
For this type of pathway a functional enzyme A or B can produce a product from a
common precursor. The product gives color to the wheat kernel. Therefore, only one
dominant allele at either of the two loci is required to generate the product.
Thus, if a pure line wheat plant with a colored kernel (genotype = AABB) is crossed to
plant with white kernels (genotype = aabb) and the resulting F1 plants are selfed, a
modification of the dihybrid 9:3:3:1 ratio will be produced. The following table provides a
biochemical explanation for the 15:1 ratio.
Genotype Kernel Phenotype Enzymatic Activities

9 A_B_ colored kernels functional enzymes from both genes
3 A_bb colored kernels functional enzyme from the A gene pair
3 aaB_ colored kernels functional enzyme from the B gene pair
1 aabb colorless kernels non-functional enzymes produced at both genes
If we sum the three different genotypes that will produce a colored kernel we can see
that we can achieve a 15:1 ratio. Because either of the genes can provide the wild type
phenotype, this interaction is called duplicate gene action.
Example 2: 9:7 Ratio

Example: Flower color in sweet pea
If two genes are involved in a specific pathway and functional products from both are
required for expression, then one recessive allelic pair at either allelic pair would result
in the mutant phenotype. This is graphically shown in the following diagram.
If a pure line pea plant with colored flowers (genotype = CCPP) is crossed to pure line,
homozygous recessive plant with white flowers, the F1 plant will have colored flowers
and a CcPp genotype. The normal ratio from selfing dihybrid is 9:3:3:1, but epistatic
interactions of the C and P genes will give a modified 9:7 ratio. The following table
describes the interactions for each genotype and how the ratio occurs.
Genotype Flower Color Enzyme Activities/TH>

9 C_P_ Flowers colored; Functional enzymes from both genes
anthocyanin produced
3 C_pp Flowers white; p enzyme non-functional
no anthocyanin produced
3 ccP_ Flowers white; c enzyme non-functional
1 ccpp Flowers white; c and p enzymes non-functional
Because both genes are required for the correct phenotype, this epistatic interaction is
called complementary gene action.
Example 3: 12:3:1 Ratio

Phenotype: Fruit Color in Squash
With this interaction, color is recessive to no color at one allelic pair. This recessive
allele must be expressed before the specific color allele at a second locus is expressed.
At the first gene white colored squash is dominant to colored squash, and the gene
symbols are W=white and w=colored. At the second gene yellow is dominant to green,
and the symbols used are G=yellow, g=green. If the dihybrid is selfed, three phenotypes
are produced in a 12:3:1 ratio. The following table explains how this ratio is obtained.
Shapes of Squash Fruit
Genotype Fruit Color Gene Actions

9 W_G_ White Dominant white allele negates effect of G allele
3 W_gg White Dominant white allele negates effect of G allele
3 wwG_ Yellow Recessive color allele allows yellow allele expression
1 wwgg Green Recessive color allele allows green allele expression
Because the presence of the dominant W allele masks the effects of either
the G or g allele, this type of interaction is called dominant epistasis.
Example 4: 13:3 ratio
Phenotype: Malvidin production in Primula
Certain genes have the ability to suppress the expression of a gene at a second locus.
The production of the chemical malvidin in the plant Primula is an example. Both the
synthesis of the chemical (controlled by the K gene) and the suppression of synthesis at
the K gene (controlled by the D gene) are dominant traits. The F1 plant with the
genotype KkDd will not produce malvidin because of the presence of the
dominant D allele. What will be the distribution of the F2 phenotypes after the F1 was
crossed?
Genotype Phenotype and genetic explanation

9 K_D_ no malvidin because dominant D allele is present
3 K_dd malvidin productions because dominant K allele present
3 kkD_ no malvidin because recessive k and dominant D alleles present
1 kkdd no malvidin because recessive k allele present
The ratio from the above table is 13 no malvidin production to 3 malvidin production.
Because the action of the dominant D allele masks the genes at the K locus, this
interaction is termed dominant suppression epistasis.
Suppressor - a genetic factor that prevents the expression of alleles at a second locus;
this is an example of epistatic interaction
Remember that epistasis is the interaction between different genes. If one allele or
allelic pair masks the expression of an allele at the second gene, that allele or allelic
pair is epistatic to the second gene. Therefore, the following table summarizes the four
epistatic interactions discussed above.
Example Allelic Interactions Type of Epistasis

Wheat kernel color A epistatic to B, b Duplicate genes
B epistatic to A, a
Sweet pea flower color cc epistatic to P, p Complementary gene action
pp epistatic to C, c
Squash Fruit Color W epistatic to G, g Dominant epistasis
Primula malvidin production D epistatic to K, k Dominant suppression
Copyright © 2000. Phillip McClean

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Gene Interactions

Chicken Varieties Phenotype

Phenotypes Genotypes Frequency

Therefore, genotypically the cross was:

Example 1: 15:1 Ratio

Genotype Kernel Phenotype Enzymatic Activities

Example 2: 9:7 Ratio

Genotype Flower Color Enzyme Activities/TH>

Example 3: 12:3:1 Ratio

Shapes of Squash Fruit

Genotype Fruit Color Gene Actions

Genotype Phenotype and genetic explanation

Example Allelic Interactions Type of Epistasis

Copyright © 2000. Phillip McClean

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