Two new ceruloplasmin variants in Negroes—Data on three populations

Two new electrophoretic variants in human serum ceruloplasmin are described. The first, called Cp New Haven (CpNH), is determined by an allele at the same autosomal locus which controls the previously described CpA and CpB variants. It migrates with a mobility between CpB and CpC. The variant has been encountered in American as well as Nigerian and Haitian Negroes. The minimal estimate of Cp ^NH gene frequency in American Negroes is about 0.006. The second variant, named Cp Bridgeport (Cp Bpt), has a mobility between CpA and CpB. It apparently has an extremely low frequency. Similar to CpNH, the Cp Bpt genetic determinant seems to be an autosomal codominant gene. Its relationship to Cp ^A , Cp ^C , and Cp ^NH is, however, unknown. The frequencies of Cp variants in a number of populations are presented.This work was supported in part by USAEC contract AT (11-1) 1552 and by USPHS Career Development Award 6-K 3 HE-24, 980 (to D.C.S.).     

Phosphoglucomutase electrophoretic variants in the mouse

The phosphoglucomutase (PGM) electrophoretic phenotype of the mouse (Mus musculus) consists of several distinct components which can be grouped into two major zones designated PGM-1 and PGM-2. Evidence presented here indicates that each zone is controlled by a single genetic locus denoted Pgm-1 and Pgm-2, respectively. Two variant forms segregated at the Pgm-1 locus. They were codominantly expressed and inherited as alleles at an autosomal locus. The alleles were termed Pgm-1 ^a (fast) and Pgm-1 ^b (slow). These alleles were separately fixed in a number of inbred strains of mice. Preliminary evidence based on wild mouse phenotypes indicates that variant forms also exist for PGM-2 which are inherited as alleles at an autosomal locus. Genetic linkage relationships have not been determined for these loci. PGM-1 variants and PGM-2 were expressed in mouse fibroblasts in vitro.Supported by U.S. Public Health Service grants GM-09966 and GM-07249 from General Medical Sciences and 5 F2 HD-35,531 from Child Health and Human Development; and Atomic Energy Commission contract AT(30-1)-3671.Postdoctoral Fellow of the U.S. Public Health Service.     

Human carbonic anhydrases. VII. A new C type isozyme in erythrocytes of American Negroes

An unusual erythrocyte carbonic anhydrase C type isozyme tentatively designated as H has been found in American Negroes. It has an electrophoretic mobility near that of carbonic anhydrase B. In about 18% of the individuals studied the H isozyme replaces half of the normal C isozyme, and in about 1% of this population only the H isozyme is present.This work was supported in part by Grant CA-01786 from the United States Public Health Service. One of us (M.J.M.) is a recipient of a National Institutes of Health predoctoral traineeship on U.S. Public Health Training Grant No. 5-T01-GM0125-05 to the Department of Anthropology.     

Genetic control of two electrophoretic variants of glucosephosphate isomerase in the mouse (Mus musculus)

The autosomal variation and the genetic control of GPI has been determined by a comparison of electrophoretic patterns of F₁ and backcross progeny of three inbred strains of mice. The locus controlling the production of GPI in the mouse has been designated Gpi-1. Two alleles at this locus have been described and designated Gpi-1 ^a and Gpi-1 ^b, which represent, respectively, the slow and fast electrophoretic forms. Twenty-seven inbred strains of mice have been classified for these two alleles. The absence of close linkage of Gpi-1 to seven other genetic loci has been determined. It has been demonstrated that the polymorphism of Gpi-1 is widely distributed in feral mice. GPI was expressed in vitro and in four types of malignant tumors.Supported by U.S. Public Health Service Grants GM-09966, from General Medical Sciences, and GY 4193.     

Genetic variation in the carbonic anhydrase isozymes of macaque monkeys. I. The radioimmunosorbent assay

A radioimmunosorbent technique is described which is capable of independently detecting both isozymes of carbonic anhydrase, CA I and CA II, in concentrations as low as 1 ng/ml. The technique is used to quantitate the different electrophoretic variants of red cell CA I as well as levels of CA II in the pig-tailed macaque, Macaca nemestrina.Supported by U.S. Public Health Service research grant GM-15419.U.S. Public Health Service Predoctoral Trainee (GM-71-14).     

Isozyme variability in species of the genus Drosophila. III. Qualitative comparison of the esterases of D. aldrichi and D. mulleri

Two closely related species, Drosophila aldrichi and D. mulleri, are compared on the basis of their esterase isozyme patterns after starch gel electrophoresis. Comparable esterases between the two species are identified by substrate specificity, inhibition, and enhancement of esterase activity by various agents. The extensive electrophoretic variability of most of the esterases in nature is described and data relating to the inheritance of the various enzyme forms are presented.This work was supported (in part) by a U.S. Public Health Service research grant (GM 11609 to W. S. Stone and M. R. Wheeler) and a training grant (2 T1-GM 337-07 to R. P. Wagner et al.) from the National Institutes of Health.     

Duplication of the autosomally inherited 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase gene locus in tetraploid species of cyprinid fish

Among members of the fish family Cyprinidae,a diploid—tetraploid relationship exists. The present study on electrophoretic patterns of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase indicates that such diploid members as Barbus tetrazonamaintain allelic polymorphism at a single gene locus for this enzyme. Tetraploid members such as the carp and goldfish are endowed with two separate gene loci for 6-PGD. Tetraploid evolution apparently fixed two former alleles of the same locus as two separate gene loci. Furthermore, it appears that after becoming tetraploid, the carp and goldfish developed a separate regulatory mechanism for each locus; thus preferential activation of one or the other 6-PGD locus occurs in different tissues of tetraploid species. This investigation was supported in part by a grant (CA-05138) from the National Cancer Institute, U.S. Public Health Service, and in part by a research fund established in honor of General James H. Doolittle. Contribution No. 4-68, Department of Biology, City of Hope Medical Center.Dr. Bender is a recipient of International Postdoctoral Fellowship 3 F05-TW-01198-0152 from the U.S. Public Health Service.     

Transferrin DChi: The amino acid substitution

A peptide difference has been found in the neutral-band (pH 6.4) regions of tryptic digests of human transferrins C and D_Chi. The peptide has the composition Asp-Ser-Ala-Arg. Therefore, this peptide is proposed as the 2TD_Chi ^b peptide, the result of the replacement of histidine by arginine in the Tf C peptide.Supported in part by U.S. Public Health Service grants GM 09326, 5-K3 GM 18,381, and GM 00337 from the National Institutes of Health.     

Human malic enzyme: High-frequency polymorphism of the mitochondrial form

Polymorphic variation of the human mitochondrial malic enzyme was detected in Caucasians and Negroes. The frequencies of the two alleles determining the three mitochondrial malic enzyme phenotypes were 0.69 and 0.31 in the Caucasian sample and 0.82 and 0.18 in the much smaller Negro sample. The distribution of phenotype frequencies among the 85 Caucasian males shows a significant deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium proportions. Two interconvertible forms of the cytoplasmic malic enzyme are described in human brain tissue, together with one variant in 132 Caucasian individuals.This study was supported by grant GM 15253 from the National Institutes of Health and by Institutional Cancer Grant IN-26 from the American Cancer Society. One of us (G.S.O.) is a National Genetics Foundation Fellow; formerly Special Fellow, U.S. Public Health Service (5F3-HD 43,122-02).     

Genetic variation in the carbonic anhydrase isozymes of macaque monkeys. II. Inheritance of red cell carbonic anhydrase levels in different carbonic anhydrase I genotypes of the pig-tailed macaque,Macaca nemestrina

The inheritance of red blood cell levels of carbonic anhydrase isozymes (CA I and CA II) has been studied in different carbonic anhydrase I genotypes of the pig-tailed macaque, Macaca nemestrina. Quantitation of CA I isozymes in a series of animals indicates that the total CA I concentration is the sum of the average effects of each CA I structural allele and that the average effects are independent of the various allelic combinations. The relative average effects were 0.32:0.95:1.0 for the CA I ^a, CA I^b, and CA I ^c structural genes, respectively. It is also demonstrated that the level of CA II is related to the CA I genotypes. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that each dose of CA I-deficiency gene present decreased the CA II concentration by approximately 30%, with this decrease in CA II level being solely related to the dose of CA I-deficiency gene and not to the level of CA I. The CA I-deficient animals produce CA I products that are similar to the common CA Ia, CA Ib, CA Ic electrophoretic types. Limited mating data indicate that the CA I components in CA I-deficient animals are inherited codominantly.Supported by U.S. Public Health Service Research Grant GM-15419.This report is a portion of a dissertation submitted to the University of Michigan in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy degree.U.S. Public Health Service Predoctoral Trainee (GM-71-14).     

Leucine aminopeptidase polymorphism inPhaseolus and differential elimination of the donor parent genotype in interspecific backcrosses

Starch gel electrophoretic analysis of crude seed (cotyledonary) extracts of Phaseolus vulgaris, P. coccineus,F ₁ ,F ₂ ,F ₃ ,and reciprocal F ₁ backcrosses reveals monomorphic and polymorphic forms of leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) in the genus. The polymorphic forms (LAP-II) are controlled by the codominant alleles, Lap-II^a and Lap-II^b.Reciprocal backcrosses to both species show a highly significant deviation from the expected 1:1 ratio when the donor parent allele is transmitted through male gametes. There is not a significant deviation from the expected ratio when transmission is through female gametes. Differential gametic selection, in conjunction with differential sterility, suggests that structural differences exist between the genomes of these species. This research was supported in part by U.S. Public Health Service Grants GM 11612 and GM 14941-01.     

Genetic variation of the cytoplasmic and mitochondrial malic enzymes in the monkey Macaca nemestrina

Electrophoretic variation of both the cytoplasmic and mitochondrial forms of the malic enzyme is described in Macaca nemestrina. Pedigree analysis of the observed phenotypes demonstrates that the two subcellular forms of the malic enzyme are genetically independent. The identity of the electrophoretic phenotypes in brain, heart muscle, liver, kidney, adrenal, and spleen from any given individual shows that each subcellular form is determined by the same genetic locus in a wide variety of tissues. After separation by ion exchange chromatography, the cytoplasmic and mitochondrial malic enzymes were shown to be distinct in their heat stability and K _m for malate, but no significant differences were found among the variants of the cytoplasmic enzyme or among the variants of the mitochondrial enzyme. It is possible that the polymorphism of the mitochondrial malic enzyme is selectively neutral.This study was supported by grant GM-15253 from the National Institutes of Health. One of us (G.S.O.) was a Special Fellow, U.S. Public Health Service (5F3 HD 43, 122-02); Fellow, National Genetics Foundation.     

Histological and histochemical observations on the testis of Gobius paganellus

Summary Histological and histochemical observations on the testis of Gobius paganellus during all seasons of the year are described. In the yearly reproductive cycle, spawning in the Gulf of Naples occured from June through August, testicular recovery and relative inactivity from September through December, and active spermatogenesis from January to May.Germ cells develop as clones from single primary spermatogonia, each clone in a follicle enveloped by cells which are interpreted as Sertoli cell homologues.Glandular tissue is present in large amounts both in the form of interstitial islets and as a large mass along the length of the mesorchium. Cholesterolpositive lipids and ⁵-3-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, presumptive evidence for steroid production, are present exclusively in this tissue.Lipids are present in the glandular cells in acidic and neutral forms. The acid fats are the more abundant, but neutral lipids increase in amount in the period April-June. There is, furthermore, a cyclic variation in lipid droplet size, small droplets being present in the spring (during active spermatogenesis) and fewer, larger droplets during the fall (post-spawning period). Phospholipids are lacking.Lactic dehydrogenase activity was weak in the relatively inactive postspawning period, but was much more intense during active spermatogenesis.The glandular tissue in the testis of Gobius is interpreted as homologous with the interstitial (Leydig) tissue found in the testes of higher vertebrates.This investigation was supported by research grant RG-6455 from the Division of General Medical Sciences, U.S. Public Health Service.Postdoctoral Fellow from the Division of General Medical Sciences, U.S. Public Health Service. Supported in part by U.S. Public Health Service Training Grant 5 Tl GM-136, Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington, School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.     

Cat-2 gene expression

Summary Poly(A)⁴ RNA was isolated from maize scutella of different stages of post-germinative development and translated in vitro in a rabbit reticulocyte translation system. Immunoprecipitation of the translation products with CAT-2-specific antibody was used to quantitate the relative levels of translatable CAT-2 mRNA at each stage. The results show a close correlation between the developmental profile of Cat2 gene expression and the profile of CAT-2 mRNA levels. Evidence that the levels of CAT-2 mRNA are regulated by a temporal regulatory gene (Car1) is presented and the possible mechanism(s) of this regulation discussed.This work was supported by Research Grants No. GM22733 and No. GM33817 from the U.S. National Institutes of Health, Public Health Service to J.G.S. This is paper No. 9933 of the Journal Series of the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA     

Immunochemical cross-reactivity between intact purified myelin basic protein (MBP) and the synthetic encephalitogenic peptide S49

Three antisera to myelin basic protein—a rabbit antiserum pool against rat myelin, a rabbit antiserum pool against rat myelin basic protein (MBP), and a monkey antiserum against bovine MBP—were found to contain detectable levels of antibodies that would bind radiolabeled S49 (GSLPQKAQRPQDENG). Strongly encephalitogenic in Lewis rat, S49 is a synthetic peptide representing residues 69–84 of bovine MBP with a deletion of glycine-76 and histidine-77 to make it analogous to rat and guinea pig MBPs. The rabbit antimyelin antiserum and the monkey anti-MBP antiserum contained antibodies directed against a non-sequential determinant that required asparagine 84, the glycine-histidine deletion, and residues 69–71 for maximal activity. S49-reactive antibodies from the rabbit anti-MBP antiserum were directed solely against a sequential determinant comprising residues 69–71. S49-reactive antibodies from all three antisera reacted in liquid phase with purified intact rat, guinea pig, and bovine MBP showing that the determinant is exposed for B cell recognition even in bovine MBP and can serve both as immunogen and reactant.This work supported at Duke University Medical Center by Research Grant NS-10237 from the National Institutes of Health of the U.S. Public Health Service and the Medical Scientist Training Program Grant #5-T32-OMO-7171-08; at St. Luke's Hospital Center by NS-15322 from the National Institutes of Health of the U.S. Public Health Service; and at Northwestern University by Research Grant NS-06262 from the National Institutes of Health of the U.S. Public Health Service.     

A genetically determined variant of the a-subunit of lactic dehydrogenase in the deer mouse

Analysis by starch gel electrophoresis of erythrocyte hemolysates and brain extracts indicated that an electrophoretic variant of lactic dehydrogenase discovered in Peromyscus involves the A subunit. The tetramers containing the variant molecules migrate more rapidly than the normal ones, and the staining reactions suggested a reduced enzymatic activity. Comparisons of the erythrocyte LDH activity of normal and homozygous variant animals indicated that the variant enzyme is intrinsically less active than the normal. The variant is inherited as an autosomal codominant and appears to confer no selective disadvantage.This work was supported in part by a grant GM-15885 from the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Public Health Service, and in part by a supporting fund established in the name of Zachary Pitts Research Fellowship.     

Characterization of invertebrate cell lines

Summary A reliable, simple method for the separation of four cellular isozymes utilizing celluloseacetate electrophoresis is described. Cell extracts of 16 cell lines were examined previously, utilizing starch gel electrophoretic techniques. These same cell extracts were retested for their isozyme phenotype using the cellulose-acetate electrophoretic system. These data indicate that the results of the two electrophoretic systems are comparable. Isozyme analyses of freshly prepared cell extracts of theAedes albopictus (ATC-15) andSpodoptera frugiperda (IPLB-SF-21AE) cell lines resulted in identical isozyme mobilities when compared with their respective stored counterparts. Since the cellulose-acetate electrophoretic system was able to separate cellular isozymes into characteristic patterns, distinctions between cell lines were made. The application of this technique for identification and characterization of invertebrate cell lines is discussed. This research was supported in part by the Rockefeller Foundation and U.S. Public Health Service Grant AI-13727.     

Further studies on polyploid amphibians (Ceratophrydidae)

The comparative DNA values were measured in three species of South American frogs belonging to the family Ceratophrydidae: Odontophrynus cultripes (2n=22), O. americanus (2n=44) and Ceratophrys dorsata (2n=104). Nuclei of erythrocytes, liver, kidney, pancreas and testis were used for measurements. The results obtained confirmed polyploid evolution in the family Ceratophrydidae. The relative DNA values of these three species conformed to the expected 124 ratio. — In general, the proportional increase in nuclear volume was observed in corresponding tissues of tetraploid and octoploid species.Supported by a grant (GM-14577-01) from National Institute of General Medical Sciences — U.S. Public Health Service.Supported by grants from CNPq, UFMG and Rockefeller Foundation.     

The evidence of gene duplication for S-form NADP-linked isocitrate dehydrogenase in carp and goldfish

In the present paper, allelic polymorphism for electrophoretic variants of supernatant-form of NADP-linked isocitrate dehydrogenase (S-form IDH) was described in the surf smelt (Hypomesus pretiosus), the goldfish (Carassium auratus), and the carp (Cyprinus carpio). As in most other vertebrates including mammals, S-form IDH of the smelt was specified by a single gene locus. The goldfish and the carp, on the other hand, were endowed with two separate gene loci for S-form IDH. This apparent gene duplication was attributed to tetraploid origin of the goldfish and carp.This work was supported in part by a grant (CA 05138) from the National Cancer Institute, U.S. Public Health Service.Dr. Antonio Quiroz-Gutierrez is a postdoctorate fellow of the Institute for Biomedical Studies of the City of Hope Medical Center; he has also received support from the Ministry of Work, Mexico.     

A reinvestigation of the nucleolus-organizing regions in the salivary gland nuclei of Drosophila melanogaster

Comparisons were made of the morphology of the proximal region of the salivary gland X-chromosome of D. melanogaster following a number of different staining procedures. Azur B was found to be the most satisfactory staining method for identification of the nucleolus. The states of eu- and heterochromatization (sensu Prokofyeva-Belgovskaya) of the bands in the proximal region—particulary striking in the mirror-image duplication of the R(1)2, ring-X, chromosome—contribute to the variability in the banding-pattern, and consequently the refractoriness of this region to cytological investigation. No nucleolus was ever found to be associated with the group of bands presumed to be the Y-chromosome.This investigation was supported in part by a U.S. Public Health Service Research Grant, GM 15009, from the Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health, and in part by a grant from the Finnish National Research Council for Sciences.