Abstract
While the common red cell phenotype of lactate dehydrogenase in mammals includes A and B subunits, in some species, especially of the rodent suborder Myomorpha, LDH B subunits are absent in erythrocytes (phenotype B−). A polymorphism involving LDH B+ and LDH B− phenotypes was observed in Mus musculus, and it was found that LDH B− is recessive in relation to LDH B+ (Shows and Ruddle, 1968). A similar polymorphism is described here in the field mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus. In family studies, the recessive mode of inheritance is confirmed. Induction of reticulocytosis reveals that the LDH B− phenotype is not the consequence of degradation of the B subunits in aging red cells. The nature of the mutation giving rise to this polymorphism is discussed.
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Engel, W., Kreutz, R. & Wolf, U. Studies on the genetic polymorphism of lactate dehydrogenase B (phenotype B−) in rodent erythrocytes. Biochem Genet 7, 45–55 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00487009
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00487009