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Biochemical Genetics (v.38, #11-12)
NOTE: Spatial Structure and Gene Flow from Biochemical Markers in the “Pyrenean Brown” Breed, a Rare Cattle Race in Catalonia (Spain)
by M. Ruiz-Garcia; J. Jordana (pp. 341-352).
Structure and Genetic Relationship Among Brazilian Naturalized and Imported Goat Breeds by M. L. S. P. Igarashi; T. M. Machado; J. A. Ferro; E. P. B. Contel (pp. 353-365).
Fourteen goat populations were studied regarding their genetic relationship and structure. Parameters of genetic diversity (HT, HS and GST) and F statistic (FIS, FIT and FST) were estimated. Undefined breed populations presented high homogeneity, as did imported breed populations. Naturalized breed populations showed high differentiation. The genetic distances separating these 14 goat populations were calculated from gene frequency data for eight blood genetic markers (esterase D, phosphoglucomutase 1, carbonic anhydrase II, peptidase B, amylase, haemoglobin, transferrin, and protein X). Working with the genetic distance matrix of Nei corrected for small samples (DA), we constructed a dendrogram using the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean. DA values ranged from 0.0027 to 0.1518. The dendrogram divided the populations into two groups, one consisting of three populations of naturalized breeds, and another including the other populations (imported breeds, undefined breeds and some other naturalized breeds).
Keywords: goat; genetic distances; protein polymorphism; genetic relationships; genetic diversity
Characterization of Nasutitermes globiceps (Isoptera: Termitidae) Esterases by Maria Claudia C. Ruvolo-Takasusuki; Tha´ıs Collet (pp. 367-375).
Esterases of Nasutitermes globiceps termites which occur on the Upper Paran´a River floodplain (Brazil) were characterized. The electrophoretic pattern of the termite esterases Nasutitermes globiceps was obtained by starch gel electrophoresis. Six esterase activity zones were obtained and numbered, with esterase-1 being the most anodall one and esterase-6 the most cathodal one. Esterase-2 was detected only with substrates derived from the 4-methylumbelliferyl radical. The esterases of N. globiceps present wide substrate specificity, having been observed with substrates derived from α-naphthyl (acetate, propionate, and butyrate) and β-naphthyl (acetate, butyrate) and from 4-methylumbelliferyl (acetate, propionate and butyrate). Esterase-6 is a caste-specific enzyme detected in soldiers. Only esterases 1, 3 and 5 were detected in nymphs. No genetic polymorphism has been detected thus far in the esterases of Nasutitermes globiceps. This study suggests that allozyme variation can be explored to understand Nasutitermes social structure.
Keywords: esterases; termites; Nasutitermes globiceps ; castes; expression during development
Isolation and Characterization of a cDNA Clone Coding for a Glutathione S-Transferase Class Delta Enzyme from the Biting Midge Culicoides variipennis sonorensis Wirth and Jones by Mona A. Abdallah; Richard S. Pollenz; Frans N. Droog; Richard A. Nunamaker; Walter J. Tabachnick; Keith E. Murphy (pp. 377-390).
Culicoides variipennis sonorensis is the primary vector of bluetongue viruses in North America. Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are enzymes that catalyze nucleophilic substitutions, converting reactive lipophilic molecules into soluble conjugates. Increased GST activity is associated with development of insecticide resistance. Described here is the isolation of the first cDNA encoding a C. variipennis GST. The clone consists of 720 translated bases encoding a protein with a Mr of ∼24,800 composed of 219 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence is similar (64%–74%) to class Delta (previously named Theta) GSTs from the dipteran genera Musca, Drosophila, Lucilia and Anopheles. The cDNA was subcloned into pET-11b, expressed in Epicurian coli BL21 (DE3) and has a specific activity of ∼28,000 units/mg for the substrate 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene.
Keywords: glutathione S-transferase cDNA; Culicoides variipennis
Sequences of the Waxy Loci of Wheat: Utility in Analysis of Waxy Proteins and Developing Molecular Markers by L. Yan; M. Bhave (pp. 391-411).
The waxy proteins from a number of genetic backgrounds of wheat and its progenitors were analyzed by SDS-PAGE. The deduced amino acid sequences of the waxy proteins of three diploid progenitor species indicated several key amino acid substitutions, which could explain the differences observed in the electrophoretic mobilities of the wheat waxy proteins. A slight difference observed in the apparent molecular weight of the WX-A1 protein of diploid and polyploid wheat was explained by amino acid substitutions or variations in predicted protein structures. Further, twelve different partial genomic clones, representing the individual waxy loci of the various diploid, tetraploid and hexaploid wheats, were isolated and compared. The results indicated significant variations in intron 4 and led to identification of sequences unique to the individual waxy genes and genomes of wheat and its proposed progenitors. The sequence variations observed have a great potential for development as molecular markers for identification of specific waxy loci and study of the various waxy mutants of wheat.
Keywords: waxy protein; waxy gene sequences; molecular markers
NOTE: Blood Protein Polymorphism in B. frontalis, B. grunniens, B. taurus, and B. indicus
by Zheng-chao Tu; Long Nie; Ying Yu; Ji-kun Wen; Ya-ping Zhang (pp. 413-416).