Intraspecific red cell enzyme variation in the pigtailed macaque (Macaca nemestrina)

The erythrocytes of 350 pigtailed macaques (Macaca nemestrina) were examined for electrophoretic variation of hemoglobin and 26 enzymes. Seven enzymes showed variation in more than 1% of individuals: phosphoglucose isomerase, phosphoglucomutase-1, soluble NADP-dependent isocitric dehydrogenase, peptidase A, peptidase C, 2,3-diphosphoglycerate mutase, and acid phosphatase. Variation with lesser frequency was found in soluble glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase, phosphoglycerate kinase, lactic dehydrogenase, and hemoglobin. Only eight samples were tested for esterase D, and one of these had a variant phenotype. Enzymes with no clear variation were adenylate kinase, adenosine deaminase, phosphofructokinase, hexokinase, pyruvate kinase, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, aldolase, phosphoglycerate mutase, phosphopyruvate hydratase (enolase), phosphoglucomutase-3, and superoxide dismutase. There was father-to-son transmission of PGI, PGM-1, peptidase C, 6PGD, 2,3-DPGAM, NADP-ICD, and acid phosphatase variants, suggesting that these loci are autosomal as in man.     

Electrophoretic variants of red cell phosphoglucose isomerase in some caste populations of Punjab

Hemolysates from a total of 640 blood samples from seven endogamous caste groups of the Patiala and Faridkot districts of Punjab, North-West India, were subjected to horizontal starch gel electrophoresis to study the phosphoglucose isomerase (PGI) types. In addition to the usual pattern PGI 1, the only rare phenotype encountered in the present material was PGI 3-1, present in four out of the seven groups investigated. Examination of the available data from Punjab suggests that apparently rare PGI types other than PGI 3-1 are lacking in populations studied.     

Blood group, serum protein and red cell enzyme groups of Amerindian populations in Colombia

Red cell samples from persons belonging to four Amerindian linguistic groups in Colombia were investigated for genetic variants in eight blood group systems: for three of the groups investigations were extended to ten red cell enzyme and four serum protein systems. The groups studied are the Noanama (including six Empera) of the Rio Siquirisua and Rio Docampado on the Pacific lowlands and the Cofan, Ingano and Siona Indians of the Upper Rio Putumayo and its tributaries to the east of the Andes. Only blood group O was present among two of the groups and the same groups were 100% Kp(b +), k in the Kell system. Di(a +) frequencies were high in three groups and there was marked variation between groups for the MNS, Rh, P, Lewis and Duffy systems. Polymorphism in all the three linguistic groups studied for serum proteins and red cell enzymes was present only in the red cell acid phosphatase, phosphoglucomutase (locus-1) and haptoglobin systems. 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase was polymorphic in the Noanama, and caeruloplasmin was polymorphic in the Ingano linguistic group. In addition two persons belonging to the Cofan linguistic group revealed the presence of an “atypical” component in the lactate dehydrogenase system. No variation was found in the other six red cell enzyme and two serum protein systems. Comparison with published data on red cell enzyme and serum protein groups for other South American Amerindian populations shows the Colombian populations studied here most closely resemble the Cayapo of Brazil.     

Canonical Correspondence Analysis with variation partitioning: some comments and an application

Abstract. This study presents an alternative treatment of data from a comprehensive vegetation study in which the main gradient structure of boreal coniferous forest vegetation in southern Norway was investigated by ordination techniques. The data sets include vegetation samples of different plot sizes, supplied with measurements of 33 environmental explanatory variables (classified in four groups) and nine spatial explanatory variables derived from geographical coordinates. Partitioning the variation of the species-sample plot matrices on different sets of explanatory variables is performed by use of (partial) Canonical Correspondence Analysis. Several aspects of vegetation-environment relationships in the investigation area are discussed on the basis of results obtained by the new method. Generally, ca. 35% of the variation in species abundances are explained by environmental and spatial variables. The results indicate support for the hypothesis of macro-scale topographic control over the differentiation of the vegetation, more strongly so in pine than in spruce forest where soil nutrients play a major role. Towards finer scales, the primary topographical and topographically dependent factors lose importance, and vegetational differentiation is more strongly affected by the accumulated effects of the vegetation (including the tree stand) on soils, shading, litter fall, etc. The fraction of variation in species abundance explained by significant environmental variables was found to be ca. twice as large as the fraction explained by spatial variables. The fraction of variation explained by the supplied variables differed between data sets; it was lower for cryptogams than for vascular plants, and lower for smaller than for larger sample plots. Possible reasons for these patterns are discussed. Some methodological aspects of CCA with variation partitioning are discussed: improvements, necessary precautions, and the advantages over alternative methods.     

Genetic heterogeneity and population structure in eastern India: red cell enzyme variability in ten Assamese populations

This paper is a part of the genetic study of the people of Assam (eastern India), initiated by the Anthropometry and Human Genetics Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, Calcutta, India, and the Dept. of Human Biology/Physical Anthropology, University of Bremen, W. Germany. The results of 1. allele distribution of five red cell enzyme polymorphisms in ten Assamese populations, 2. heterogeneity of allele frequencies and extent of gene differentiation among these populations, and 3. standard genetic distances are presented here. A total of 1024 blood samples was screened for aP, E D, AK, ADA and LDH enzyme systems for Brahmins, Kalitas, Kaibartas, Rajbanshis, Muslims, Ahoms, Chutiyas, Kacharis, Karbis (Mikirs) and Sonowals, of which the latter three are tribes. The gene diversity (FST) is smallest (0.0035) for pa and highest (0.1604) for HbE. The total FST value (0.0399 +/- 0.0141) appears to be statistically significant. From distance analysis two major clusters with sub-clusters in each are visible, which are in conformity with the ethnohistory of these populations.     

Structure of variation in enzyme activity in natural Drosophila melanogaster populations

Enzyme activity variation was assessed in several isofemale lines originating from two Hungarian Drosophila melanogaster populations. Samples from each population were taken from from two villages; 8-9 isofemale lines were established from each village. The activities of ADH, alphaGPDH, IDH and 6PGDH were determined in the adults (in the F1 generation) and in the larvae (in the F3 generation) as well. Enzyme activities were measured on starch gel after electrophoresis. The activity of the enzyme was detected in a single individual and it was also possible to determine its genotype. The results showed that most of the variation occurred within sites for all four enzymes. This within site variation was more or less equally partitioned into within and between isofemale line (family) components. A smaller portion of variation was attributable to the differences between the populations. Nevertheless, adult alphaGPDH, and larval IDH and 6PGDH activities exhibited significant differences between the two populations. Variation in larval activities of all enzymes was higher than that of the adults, but 6PGDH had considerably higher variation in the adults. The greater variation in larval activities probably reflected the greater environmental variation in the microhabitat of the larvae compared to that of the adults. Larval activities of the investigated enzymes showed much stronger correlation than adult activities. The correlation pattern in the adults differed greatly between the two populations.     

Red cell enzyme polymorphisms in the greek populations.

The frequency of variant forms of 6 red cell enzymes, adenylate kinase, adenosine deaminase, phosphoglucomutase, acid phosphatase, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase and glutathione reductase, were determined in 9 Greek populations. The frequencies of the variants in these populations were similar to those previously reported in most other European populations. However, several differences, particularly in the 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, phosphoglucomutase and acid phosphatase alleles, were found in a comparison of Greeks and Bulgarians, in accordance with their separate ethnic origins. The Macedonians resembled the other Greeks and differed from the Bulgarians.     

In vitro effects of some drugs on human red blood cell glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase enzyme activity

In vitro effects of omeprazole, morphine sulphate, remifentanyl, ketamine and vankomycin were investigated on human red blood cell glucose-6 phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6PD) (E.C. 1.1.1.49) enzyme activity purified from human red blood cell by 2', 5'ADP-Sepharose 4B affinity gel. The obtained I50 values of omeprazole, morphine, remifentanil, ketamine and vankomycin were 3.24, 43.58, 97.6, 64.16 and 0.903 mM, respectively and the Ki constants for omeprazole, morphine and vankomycin were 8.22 +/- 2.055, 25.93 +/- 6.482, and 2.71 +/- 0.677 mM, respectively and they were non competitive inhibitors.     

Isozyme variation in some populations of wild diploid wheats in Iran

Isozyme electrophoresis data of seed extracts from 11 populations of diploid wheat species (Triticum boeoticum Bioss. and Triticum urartu Thumanian ex Gandilyan), distributed mainly in the western and west-northern Iran, were investigated. The five enzyme systems used were peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, superoxide dismutase, malate dehydrogenase and catalase. The first three were found to be useful as molecular marker for characterization of diploid wheat populations. A total of 13 bands from three enzyme systems were recorded. The value of a ‘Jaccard's’ similarity coefficient ranges from 0.333 to 1.000. Data analysis was done using clustering method UPGMA. On the basis of Jaccard's coefficient, the obtained dendrogram supports previous relationship between T. boeoticum and T. urartu as separate species as well as reflecting their distinct gene pools and substantiating their specific recognition despite the overall morphological similarity.     

Genetic variation at enzyme loci in the southernmost European populations of Atlantic salmon

Genetic variation was studied at 8 allozyme loci in six severely endangered wild Spanish populations of Salmo salar located at the southernmost geographical limit of European Atlantic salmon. Low levels of variation were detected and no significant deviations from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium were found.