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Biochemical Genetics (v.41, #3-4)

Allozyme Variation and Population Genetic Structure of Betula alnoides from Guangxi, China by Jie Zeng; Zhongren Wang; Shiliang Zhou; Jiayu Bai; Haishui Zheng (pp. 61-75).

Allozyme variation and population genetic structure of Betula alnoides Buch. Ham. ex D. Don in 11 natural populations from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, were investigated by starch gel electrophoresis. Variation at 15 loci from 10 enzyme systems was analyzed. Allozyme analysis revealed a high level of genetic variation in this species, with percentage of polymorphic loci (P p), the average number of alleles per locus (A p), and the expected heterozygosity (H ep) being 55.2%, 2.0, and 0.204, respectively, which exceeds the average level among out-crossing wind-pollinated woody species at the population level. At the species level, P s, A s, and H es were 60.0%, 2.67, and 0.206, respectively.The observed heterozygosity (H op) was higher than H ep, indicating the existence of natural selection against homozygotes. The negative fixation index (F = −0.216) implied a significant excess of heterozygosity at the population level. Among-population differentiation (F ST) accounted for 4.0% of the total variation. No significant correlation was detected between the genetic distance and geographic distance among populations. Extensive gene flow was inferred, based on the allozyme data )N m = 6.000 from F ST, N m = 5.605 from the “private allele” method). The results demonstrated that the fragmentation status of B. alnoides had no remarkable effects on the population genetic structure of this species. Some populations are recommended for both in situ genetic conservation and germplasm collection for breeding programs.

Keywords: Betula alnoides ; allozyme; genetic diversity; population genetic structure; gene flow

Genetic Map of AFLP Markers in the Rat (Rattus norvegicus) Derived from the H × B/Ipcv and B × H/Cub Sets of Recombinant Inbred Strains by Anita C. M. Bonné; Maria G. den Bieman; Gert F. Gillissen; Vladimír Kren; Drahomíra Krenová; Vlasta Bílá; Václav Zídek; Vlastimil Kostka; Alena Musilová; Michal Pravenec; Bert F. M. van Zutphen; Hein A. van Lith (pp. 77-89).

The amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) technique has been used to enhance marker density in a large set of recombinant inbred strains (H × B and B × H) derived from a spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR/OlaIpcv) and a Brown-Norway (BN.lx/Cub) inbred strain. Thirteen different primer combinations were tested and a total of 191 polymorphic bands were detected. From these polymorphic bands 89 AFLP markers could be assigned to specific chromosomes. Several of these AFLP markers were mapped to regions with low marker density, thus filling up gaps in the existing genetic map of these recombinant inbred strains. These results substantiate the value of the AFLP technology in increasing marker density in genetic maps.

Keywords: AFLP technique; rat; recombinant inbred strains

Phylogenetic Relationships of Northeast Asian Cattle to Other Cattle Populations Determined Using Mitochondrial DNA D-Loop Sequence Polymorphism by Kyu-Il Kim; Jun-Heon Lee; Sung-Soo Lee; Young-Hoon Yang (pp. 91-98).

Phylogenetic relationships of Northeast Asian cattle to various other cattle breeds including Bos taurus, Bos indicus, and Bison bison were assessed using mtDNA D-loop sequences. A neighbor-joining tree was constructed using sequences determined for 4 Cheju Black, 4 Cheju Yellow, 4 Korean Yellow cattle (Bos taurus), and 2 American Brahman cattle (Bos indicus), and also published sequences for 31 Japanese Black cattle, 45 European breed cattle, 6 African zebus, 2 African taurines, and 6 Indian zebus. Five American bisons (Bison bison) were used as an outgroup. The neighbor-joining tree showed that American bisons and Indian zebus are clearly separate from other cattle breeds, respectively, and African cattle clustered together, although with a low bootstrap probability (<50%). Results indicate that cattle in Northeast Asia, Europe, and Africa are closely related to each other–suggesting their recent divergence, but are separate from Indian zebus.

Keywords: cattle; mitochondrial DNA; D-loop; polymorphism; phylogeny

Cloning and Identification of a Novel cDNA Coding Thioredoxin-Related Transmembrane Protein 2 by Xianfang Meng; Chun Zhang; Jinzhong Chen; Shuying Peng; Yaoqiong Cao; Kang Ying; Yi Xie; Yumin Mao (pp. 99-106).

Thioredoxin plays an important role in various cellular processes through redox regulation. Here we report the molecular cloning and characterization of one member of the thioredoxin superfamily, designated as TMX2. The TMX2 cDNA consists of 1644 nucleotides and contains an open reading frame encoding a protein of 372 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 42.5 kDa and an isoelectric point of 8.94 . The TMX2 protein may possess an N-terminal signal peptide, a potential transmembrane domain, an Myb DNA-binding domain repeat signature, a thioredoxin consensus pattern, an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane retention signal (KKXX-like motif), and a dileucine motif in the tail. Northern blot analysis shows it is widely expressed in human tissues.

Keywords: thioredoxin TMX2; Northern blot

Genetic Differentiation Within Metapopulations of Euphydryas aurinia and Melitaea phoebe in China by Rongjiang Wang; Yifei Wang; Guangchun Lei; Rumei Xu; Jodie Painter (pp. 107-118).

We analyzed genetic differentiation within metapopulations of two species of checkerspot butterfly, Euphydryas aurinia and Melitaea phoebe, in China. To generate genetic information, we used a new molecular technique, DALP – direct amplified length polymorphism. AMOVA results showed that most of the variation occurred among individuals within local populations of both E. aurinia and M. phoebe. However, while there was differentiation among local population in E. aurinia (P < 0.001), there was no subdivision in metapopulation of M. phoebe (P = 0.210). This is consistent with the behavior of M. phoebe adults being more dispersive than E. aurinia. Within the M. phoebe metapopulation, three neighboring patches were always occupied during the observation period (1998–2000). In addition, the number of individuals in these three populations accounted for the majority of M. phoebe larvae, and hence we conclude that the M. phoebe metapopulation might exist as a source-sink metapopulation. On the other hand, the E. aurinia metapopulation is an example of a classical metapopulation. Therefore, the conservation management of these two species should reflect these differences.

Keywords: Euphydryas aurinia ; Melitaea phoebe ; metapopulation; genetic structure; DALP

Note: Isolation and Characterization of a Novel Human Putative Anemia-Related Gene Homologous to Mouse Sideroflexin by Xin Ye; Jian Xu; Chao Cheng; Gang Yin; Li Zeng; Chaoneng Ji; Shaohua Gu; Yi Xie; Yumin Mao (pp. 119-125).

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Biochemical Genetics (v.41, #3-4)