Dietary rescue of a lethal "null" activity allele of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase in Drosophila melanogaster.

The genetic rescue of Pgdn lethal alleles, accomplished by combining them with mutations lacking glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity, has led to the hypothesis that Pgdn lethality may be due to the accumulation of 6-phosphogluconate. In this article we report the rescue of Pgdn/Y males by dietary supplements (fructose and linolenate) designed to minimize 6-phosphogluconate production.