The distribution of haptoglobin and transferrin types in northeast New Guinea

This paper reports haptoglobin testing of 2,029 serum specimens and transferrin typing of 1,911 specimens obtained from villages representing a wide range of environments and cultures in the Markham River Valley region of northeast New Guinea. The haptoglobin gene frequencies ranged from 90.0% to 61.4% for Hp¹ and the frequency of the transferring gene Tf^c ranged from 94.9% to 71.5%. Other transferrin genes present were Tf^D1 and, in low frequency, Tf^{B Lae}. Overall, no apparent correlations were found between the frequencies of these genes and altitudes, languages or distances of the villages studied up the valley. It was felt that the arguments put forward earlier emphasizing the role of genetic drift in determining gene distribution in New Guinea could be also applied to explain the distribution of the haptoglobin and transferrin genes in the Markham River Valley.     

Plasma gonadotropin and progesterone concentrations during the estrous cycle of Finn, Suffolk and Targhee ewes

Hormonal profiles during the estrous cycle of Finn, Suffolk and Targhee ewes were compared in six ewes of each breed. Blood samples were drawn by venipuncture at 8-h intervals from onset to onset of consecutive estrous periods. Number of corpora lutea (CL) and ovarian follicles >/=3 mm in diameter on Day 10 (estrus = Day 0) were observed using endoscopy. Estrous cycle length was 14.9, 15.6 and 16.4 d (P<0.01) in Finn, Suffolk and Targhee ewes, respectively. Finns had more (P<0.001) CL (3.5) than Suffolks (2.0) and Targhees (1.8), but luteal phase progesterone concentrations were similar among breeds in peak level and area under the curve. In Finn ewes, the amplitude of the preovulatory LH surge was lower (P<0.01) and tended to occur later in estrus; otherwise LH levels and patterns were similar among breeds. A coincident follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) preovulatory surge occurred in most ewes, the amplitude of which was related to that of luteinizing hormone (LH); r = 0.67, P<0.01. Plasma FSH levels and patterns were similar in Finn, Suffolk and Targhee ewes and most ewes had three to four secretory episodes. Follicles >/=3 mm averaged 1.8, 1.0 and 1.2 (P>0.1) in Finn, Suffolk and Targhee ewes, respectively. Results indicate that the higher ovulation rate of the Finn ewe is not elicited by increased FSH levels at any stage of the estrous cycle.     

The size distribution of protein families within different types of folds

It is well known that the structure is currently available only for a small fraction of known protein sequences. It is urgent to discover the important features of known protein sequences based on present protein structures. Here, we report a study on the size distribution of protein families within different types of folds. The fold of a protein means the global arrangement of its main secondary structures, both in terms of their relative orientations and their topological connections, which specify a certain biochemical and biophysical aspect. We first search protein families in the structural database SCOP against the sequence-based database Pfam, and acquire a pool of corresponding Pfam families whose structures can be deemed as known. This pool of Pfam families is called the sample space for short. Then the size distributions of protein families involving the sample space, the Pfam database and the SCOP database are obtained. The results indicate that the size distributions of protein families under different kinds of folds abide by similar power-law. Specially, the largest families scatter evenly in different kinds of folds. This may help better understand the relationship of protein sequence, structure and function. We also show that the total of proteins with known structures can be considered a random sample from the whole space of protein sequences, which is an essential but unsettled assumption for related predictions, such as, estimating the number of protein folds in nature. Finally we conclude that about 2957 folds are needed to cover the total Pfam families by a simple method.     

Haptoglobin and transferrin types in schizophrenia

Haptoglobin and transferrin types were studied in schizophrenic patients and controls. In the haptoglobin system a significant departure from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium with an excess of heterozygotes was found among the patients (p less than 0.01). The distribution of haptoglobin types in the schizophrenic patients was significantly different from that in the controls. The distribution of transferrin types showed a good agreement with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. There was no significant difference between patients and controls with respect to transferrin types.     

Haptoglobin and transferrin types in Eti-Turks

Haptoglobin and transferrin types were examined in Eti-Turks. The Hp1 frequency was 0.26. With the exception of two individuals with transferrin D, only the transferrin C was observed. The gene frequencies were in the range of most of the Asiatic populations including Turks.     

A new transferrin allele in sheep

An electrophoretic variant of sheep transferrin, TfL, has been described. Transferrin L has been shown to be controlled by a single codominant allele, TfL, at the Tf locus. Transferrin L is electrophoretically distinguishable from the very similar transferrin TfKCzech. The value of gradient polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis for transferrin phenotyping in sheep is discussed.     

An unusual transferrin variant in sheep

An unusual variant, Tf Aw, has been found in sheep transferrins. Its position in starch gel electrophoresis is identical with the variant Tf A, but the intensity of corresponding bands is substantially lower. Family analyses prove that the variant Aw is genetically controlled and represents either the product of an unusual allele Tf Aw or the interaction between the allele Tf A and a hypothetical modifying locus.     

An unusual transferrin variant in sheep

An unusual variant, Tf Aw, has been found in sheep transferrins. It position in starch gel electrophoresis is identical with the variant Tf A, but the intensity of corresponding bands is substantially lower. Family analyses prove that the variant Aw is genetically controlled and represents either the product of an unusual allele Tf Aw or the interaction between the allele Tf A and a hypothetical modifying locus.     

A new transferrin allele in sheep

Summary. An electrophoretic variant of sheep transferrin, TfL, has been described. Transferrin L has been shown to be controlled by a single codominant allele, TfL, at the Tf locus. Transferrin L is electrophoretically distinguishable from the very similar transferrin TfKCzech. The value of gradient polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis for transferrin phenotyping in sheep is discussed.     

Genome-Wide Genetic Diversity and Differentially Selected Regions among Suffolk,Rambouillet, Columbia,Polypay, and Targhee Sheep

Sheep are among the major economically important livestock species worldwide because the animals produce milk, wool, skin, and meat. In the present study, the Illumina OvineSNP50 BeadChip was used to investigate genetic diversity and genome selection among Suffolk, Rambouillet, Columbia, Polypay, and Targhee sheep breeds from the United States. After quality-control filtering of SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms), we used 48,026 SNPs, including 46,850 SNPs on autosomes that were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and 1,176 SNPs on chromosome × for analysis. Phylogenetic analysis based on all 46,850 SNPs clearly separated Suffolk from Rambouillet, Columbia, Polypay, and Targhee, which was not surprising as Rambouillet contributed to the synthesis of the later three breeds. Based on pair-wise estimates of F _ST, significant genetic differentiation appeared between Suffolk and Rambouillet (F _ST = 0.1621), while Rambouillet and Targhee had the closest relationship (F _ST = 0.0681). A scan of the genome revealed 45 and 41 differentially selected regions (DSRs) between Suffolk and Rambouillet and among Rambouillet-related breed populations, respectively. Our data indicated that regions 13 and 24 between Suffolk and Rambouillet might be good candidates for evaluating breed differences. Furthermore, ovine genome v3.1 assembly was used as reference to link functionally known homologous genes to economically important traits covered by these differentially selected regions. In brief, our present study provides a comprehensive genome-wide view on within- and between-breed genetic differentiation, biodiversity, and evolution among Suffolk, Rambouillet, Columbia, Polypay, and Targhee sheep breeds. These results may provide new guidance for the synthesis of new breeds with different breeding objectives.     

Transferrin types and reproduction in sheep

Transferrin types were determined for flocks of Finnish Landrace, Clun Forest, Soay and Merino sheep and gene frequencies were calculated. Analysis of ratios of transferrin types in segregating matings of Finnish Landrace and Clun Forest revealed a significant excess of heterozygotes in matings of heterozygous rams with heterozygous and with homozygous ewes. In Finnish Landrace, matings of sheep homozygous for Tf ^c to those heterozygous for Tf ^C gave a significant excess of homozygous male lambs and heterozygous female lambs. Finnish Landrace ewes of transferrin type BD had smaller litters than ewes of other types.