Recombination between two amplified esterase alleles in Culex pipiens

Abstract

Esterase gene amplification at the Ester superlocus provides organophosphate resistance in the mosquito Culex pipiens (L.). In this study we explored the possibility of recombination between two amplified esterase alleles, thus generating a composite amplified allele. To do that, females heterozygous for two distinct amplified alleles (Ester2 and Ester4) were crossed with males homozygous for a third resistance allele (Ester8). Among analyzed offspring, one recombinant composite allele (Ester2-4) was detected, providing a rate of recombination of approximately 0.2%. This is the first report of a recombination between two distinct amplified esterase alleles. This phenomenon renders the predictability of allele evolution considerably more complex than was previously thought.