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Biochemical Genetics (v.40, #3-4)

Genetic Divergence and Phylogenetic Relationships in Grey Mullets (Teleostei: Mugilidae) Based on PCR–RFLP Analysis of mtDNA Segments by V. Papasotiropoulos; E. Klossa-Kilia; G. Kilias; S. Alahiotis (pp. 71-86).

The genetic differentiation and phylogenetic relationships among five species of the Mugilidae family (Mugil cephalus, Chelon labrosus, Liza aurata, Liza ramada, and Liza saliens) were investigated at the mtDNA level, on samples taken from Messolongi lagoon-Greece. RFLP analysis of three PCR-amplified mtDNA gene segments (12s rRNA, 16s rRNA, and CO I) was used. Ten, eight, and nine restriction enzymes were found to have at least one recognition site at 12s rRNA, 16s rRNA, and CO I genes, respectively. Several fragment patterns were revealed to be species-specific, and thus they could be useful in species taxonomy as diagnostic markers, as well as for further evolutionary studies. Seven different haplotypes were detected. The greatest amount of genetic differentiation was observed at the interspecific level, while little variation was revealed at the intraspecific level. The highest values of nucleotide sequence divergence were observed between M. cephalus and all the other species, while the lowest was found between C. labrosus and L. saliens. Dendrograms obtained by the three different methods (UPGMA, Neighbor-Joining, and Dollo parsimony), were found to exhibit in all cases the same topology. According to this, the most distinct species is M. cephalus, while the other species are clustered in two separate groups, the first one containing L. aurata and L. ramada, the other L. saliens and C. labrosus. This last clustering makes the monophyletic origin of the genus Liza questionable.

Keywords: mugilidae; mtDNA; RFLP analysis; phylogeny; Greece

Genetic Variability and Level of Differentiation Among Brazilian Pantanal Wood Stork Populations by Sílvia N. Del Lama; Iara F. Lopes; Marco A. Del Lama (pp. 87-99).

The Wood Stork (Mycteria americana) is a colonial wading bird of the tropical and lower subtropical zones. We assessed genetic structure within and among five stork colonies from the Brazilian Pantanal and compared our data with those from North American populations. Samples of 234 individuals were studied using protein electrophoresis to evaluate genetic variability and interpopulation differentiation. Of 22 loci examined, 7 were polymorphic (mean heterozygosity = 0.068). The low Fst value (0.005) indicated little intraspecific variation among breeding colonies. Estimated number of migrants per generation based on private alleles (Nm = 11.3) and on Fst (48.8) suggests high gene flow. Nei's genetic distance values among Pantanal colonies ranged from 0.0001 to 0.0034, demonstrating low genetic divergence among populations. Our data can be explained by supposing high gene flow levels among Pantanal colonies, and between North and South American populations, intermediated by a probable interbreeding population in Central America.

Keywords: stork; polymorphism; gene flow; breeding colony; allozymes

Evolutionary Relationships of Flying Foxes (Genus Pteropus) in the Philippines Inferred from DNA Sequences of Cytochrome b Gene by S. T. Bastian Jr.; K. Tanaka; R. V. P. Anunciado; N. G. Natural; A. C. Sumalde; T. Namikawa (pp. 101-116).

Six flying fox species, genus Pteropus (four from the Philippines) were investigated using complete cytochrome b gene sequences (1140 bp) to infer their evolutionary relationships. The DNA sequences generated via polymerase chain reaction were analyzed using the neighbor-joining, parsimony, and maximum likelihood methods. We estimated that the first evolutionary event among these Pteropus species occurred approximately 13.90 ± 1.49 MYA. Within this short period of evolutionary time we further hypothesized that the ancestors of the flying foxes found in the Philippines experienced a subsequent diversification forming two clusters in the topology. The first cluster is composed of P. pumilus (Philippine endemic), P. speciosus (restricted in western Mindanao) with P. scapulatus, while the second one comprised P. vampyrus and P. dasymallus species based on the analysis from first and second codon positions. Consistently, all phylogenetic analyses divulged close association of P. dasymallus with P. vampyrus contradicting the previous report categorizing P. dasymallus under subniger species group with P. pumilus, P. speciosus, and P. hypomelanus. The Philippine endemic species (P. pumilus) is closely linked with P. speciosus. The representative samples of P. vampyrus showed a large genetic distance of 1.87%. The large genetic distance between P. dasymallus and P. hypomelanus, P. pumilus and P. speciosus denotes a distinct species group.

Keywords: flying foxes; Philippine endemic; cytochrome b ; species diversification

Cloning of a Novel Homeobox (NK-7.1) Containing Gene, DmHboxNK-7.1, from Drosophila melanogaster by Yasuhiko Sakoyama; Ikuko Mizuta; Akihiro Fukunaga; Masanobu Michinomae; Phillip R. Smith (pp. 117-127).

We have cloned a novel Drosophila melanogaster homeobox (Hbox) containing gene, NK-7.1 (Dm.HboxNK-7.1), which is located at 88B3 on the chromosome map, and is 1.5 kb downstream of the spn-B gene. The newly identified gene is expressed at high levels in the embryo, is switched off during larval and pupal stages, and is expressed again in the adult. The Hbox is highly similar to NK-1/S59 (Drosophila) and NK-3/bap (Drosophila). The amino acid (aa) identity ratios (%) were 58 between NK-7.1 and NK-1/S59, and between NK-7.1 and NK-3/bap. The other characteristic structures are the presence of homopolymeric aa stretches consisting of Q, N, and E.

Keywords: Drosophila ; ems ; E5; spn-B ; RT-PCR; homeodomain; opa repeat

Phylogenetic Analysis in Chicken Breeds Inferred from Complete Cytochrome b Gene Information by Xiang-Jun Shen; Shin'ichi Ito; Makoto Mizutani; Yoshio Yamamoto (pp. 129-141).

Complete cytochrome b (cyt b) gene (1140 bp) nucleotide sequences were used to investigate characteristics of the genetic constitution of Chunky broiler chickens, and these were compared with the Hy-Line and WL-GM (Garber) line of White Leghorn, the GSP line of Fayoumi, the BM-C line of Black Minorca (egg-chickens), and an outgroup of wild-origin Japanese quail. A high genetic difference (five haplotypes) was observed at the cytochrome b region in the Chunky broiler in contrast to the high homologies observed among the other chicken breeds (egg-purpose). Chunky broilers can be distinguished from the other breeds (White Leghorn, Fayoumi, and Black Minorca) at positions 552 and 779. The molecular phylogenetic tree exhibited genetic differences within Chunky broilers, and between Chunky broilers and the other three chicken breeds. As a result, some chicken strains or breeds apparently different from the other egg-chickens may have contributed to the Chunky broiler formation. Artificial selection may be one of the biggest factors causing nucleotide diversity in the chicken breeds.

Keywords: chicken breeds; cytochrome b ; gene constitution; neighbor joining; phylogeny

Note: Rapid Genotyping of Human ERCC1 Exon 4 Polymorphism with Fluorescence Analysis Using Fluorophore-Labeled Hybridization Probes and a LightCycler by Jiaoyang Yin; Mohammad A. Hedayati; Lawrence Grossman; Lars Bolund; Bjorn A. Nexo (pp. 143-148).

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Biochemical Genetics (v.40, #3-4)