Biochemical phylogenies ofDrosophila: protein differences detected by two-dimensional electrophoresis

Approximately 100 abundant proteins were analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis (2DE) in eighteen species belonging to three taxonomically differentDrosophila groups, theD. melanogaster species subgroup, theD. auraria complex and theD. virilis species group. Genetic distances between these species were calculated from a total number of protein differences in the pairs of species. Based on such data of genetic distances a dendrogram was constructed. The genetic distances or phylogeny obtained by 2DE were significantly correlated with those for one-dimensional (conventional) electrophoresis and also with data on mating success between species. It was discussed on the basis of these studies that a technique of 2DE is a useful adjunctive tool in systematics, including the previous reports with different kinds of data.