Implication of Tissue Expression of Lactate Dehydrogenase-C Gene in Phylogenetic Study of Euteleosts

Abstract

An electrophoretic investigation of the lactate dehydrogenase isozymes in twelve eutele-ostean species was conducted. Expression of the LDH-C locus and association of the A and B subunits in these fishes is discussed. In Chanos chanos this locus is found prevalent in the liver suggesting a close relation to otophysans. Presence of four iso-spaced A-B polymers in this species is a character different from otophysans which are provided with five iso-spaced A-B tetramers. Absence of tissue specificity of C4 band in all holocentrid species suggests a possible primitive phylogenetic status of this family in the Beryciformes. However, expression of the LDH-C locus provides no strong evidence for the resolution of the phylogenetic positions of the Polymixiidae and the other groups examined.