Microsatellite and Mitochondrial Diversity Analysis of Native Pigs of Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot

Assessment of genetic diversity in indigenous animals is an important and essential task for animal genetic improvement studies as well as conservation decision-making. The genetic diversity and evolutionary relationships among geographically and phenotypically distinct three pig breeds/types native to Indo-Burma and Eastern Himalayan global biodiversity hotspots were determined by genotyping with a panel of 22 ISAG recommended microsatellite loci as well as sequencing partial MTRNR1gene. The mean number of alleles per locus, effective number of alleles and observed heterozygosity were found to be 11.27 ± 0.85, 5.29 ± 0.34, and 0.795 ± 0.01, respectively. The moderate F_ST value (0.115 ± 0.01) indicated a fair degree of genetic differentiation among the native breeds. The Nei’s unbiased genetic identity estimates indicated less genetic distance (0.2909) between Niang Megha and Tenyi Vo pigs than the both individually with Ghoongroo breed. The divergence time was also estimated from the microsatellite analysis. Analysis of MTRNR1gene revealed distinct clustering of native Indian pigs with Chinese pigs over European pigs. The study revealed the abundance of genetic variation within native Indian pigs and their relationships as well as genetic distances.     

Distribution of calcium activated neutral proteinase (mM CANP) in myelin and cytosolic fractions in bovine brain white matter

The activity of calcium-activated neutral proteinase (mM CANP) was determined in homogenate, myelin and supernatant of bovine brain corpus callosum. The enzyme activity in homogenate and myelin was increased eleven and thirteen-fold respectively by Triton X-100. Myelin prepared by the method of Norton and Poduslo as well as by a modified method, was shown to contain most (more than 50%) of homogenate mM CANP activity. The specific activity was highest in myelin, and increased almost three times more than the homogenate. Supernatant only contained 17% of enzyme activity. It is concluded from these studies that mM CANP is tightly bound to the membrane and predominantly associated with the myelin sheath.