Genetic studies on pancreatic proteinase in Japanese quail

A genetic variation was found in pancreatic proteinase of Japanese quail. In eight bands of proteinase isozymes, the variation of band 5 (presence or absence) was detected among quails. Band 5 was identified as a chymotrypsin. The presence and absence of band 5 are controlled by a pair of allelic genes (Prt-5 ^A andPrt-5 ^a) on an autosomal locus, and genePrt-5 ^A, causing expression of band 5, is dominant to genePrt-5 ^a, a null allele for band 5. Zymograms of proteinases and their zymogens were also compared; no variation of chymotrypsinogen; corresponding to chymotrypsinPrt-5 was detected. It is suggested that thePrt-5 variant of chymotrypsin may be formed during activation of chymotrypsinogen.     

Genetic studies with Japanese quail

Summary An inbreeding study and two selection experiments with Japanese quail are reported which have been conducted on a comparative basis with similar work in chickens.Japanese quail exhibit pronounced inbreeding depression of reproductive traits such as egg production, fertility, hatchability and viability. Compared to the domestic fowl, the quail populations were found to show three times more damage from inbreeding for their entire reproductive cycle. These findings raise some questions concerning the history of the quail's domestication, and the breeding techniques required for developing highly inbred laboratory populations of that species.Selection experiments for high body weight at 6 weeks of age have shown response patterns comparable to those found in chicken populations. Inbreeding effects have tended to obscure some of the genetic gains in egg number which could be demonstrated only in appropriate comparisons with control populations.

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Zusammenfassung Es wird über einen Inzuchtversuch und zwei Selektionsexperimente mit Japanischen Wachteln berichtet, die zum Vergleich mit ähnlichen Arbeiten mit Hühnern durchgeführt wurden.Die Japanische Wachtel zeigt bei reproduktiven Eigenschaften, wie Eiproduktion, Fertilität, Schlüpfen und Vitalität ausgesprochene Inzuchtdepression. Im Vergleich mit dem Haushuhn ergab sich, daß Wachtelpopulationen in ihrem gesamten Reproduktionszyklus dreifach höhere Inzuchtschäden aufwiesen. Diese Feststellungen werfen einige Fragen bezüglich der Geschichte der Domestikation und bezüglich der Zuchtmethoden auf, die angewendet werden müssen, um stark ingezüchtete Laborpopulationen dieser Art zu entwickeln.Selektionen auf hohes Körpergewicht im Alter von 6 Wochen brachten vergleichbare Werte mit bei Hühnerpopulationen gefundenen Ergebnissen. Durch Inzuchtwirkungen wurden z. T. genetisch bedingte Steigerungen der Eizahl verschleiert, die nur durch geeignete Vergleiche mit Kontrollpopulationen aufgezeigt werden konnten.

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Dedicated to Professor Hans Stubbe on the occasion of his 65^th birthday.     

Genetic parameters of egg characteristics in Japanese quail

Heritability, phenotypic and genetic correlations of egg characteristics of Japanese quail were investigated to obtain basal information on breeding, strain identification and genetic monitoring. For this study, 3230 eggs produced from 323 female were used. Measurement were taken on egg weight, yolk weight, albumen weight, shell weight, egg shape index, albumen height, specific gravity, shell thickness, shell strength and yolk color. Heritability estimates of egg characteristics were high and ranged from 0.62 to 0.84. Diverse phenotypic and genetic correlations were observed among egg characteristics. These results indicate that individual selection should be the most efficient method of improving egg characteristics and that consideration should be given to the interrelationship of characteristics to accomplish genetic improvement. The possibility exists these assays of egg characteristics can be used for strain identification and genetic monitoring without killing an individual of quail.     

Nucleotide variation at the hypervariable esterase 6 isozyme locus of Drosophila simulans

Esterase 6 (Est-6/EST6) is polymorphic in both Drosophila melanogaster and D. simulans for two common allozyme forms, as well as for several other less common variants. Parallel latitudinal clines in the frequencies of the common EST6-F and EST6-S allozymes in these species have previously been interpreted in terms of a shared amino acid polymorphism that distinguishes the two variants and is subject to selection. Here we compare the sequences of four D. simulans Est-6 isolates and show that overall estimates of nucleotide heterozygosity in both coding and 5' flanking regions are more than threefold higher than those obtained previously for this gene in D. melanogaster. Nevertheless, the ratio of replacement to exon silent-site polymorphism in D. simulans is less than the ratio of replacement to silent divergence between D. simulans and D. melanogaster, which could be the result of increased efficiency of selection against replacement polymorphisms in D. simulans or to divergent selection between the two species. We also find that the amino acid polymorphisms separating EST6- F and EST6-S in D. simulans are not the same as those that separate these allozymes in D. melanogaster, implying that the shared clines do not reflect shared molecular targets for selection. All comparisons within and between the two species reveal a remarkable paucity of variation in a stretch of nearly 400 bp immediately 5' of the gene, indicative of strong selective constraint to retain essential aspects of Est-6 promoter function.      

Genetic polymorphism of erythrocyte histone H1 in Japanese quail

Histone H1 from erythrocytes of Japanese quail was resolved in a sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel into five fractions differing in apparent molecular weights. A polymorphism of histone H1.1, H1.2, and H1.3 bands was detected among quail individuals. While some birds possessed either a high (phenotype .3+) or a low (phenotype .3+/.3-) level of H1.3, at least half of the quail population lacked this H1 band (phenotype .3-). Appropriate genetic crosses demonstrated that H1.3 behaved as though it was coded by a gene with two codominant alleles at an autosomal locus. Using two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (acid-urea followed by SDS gels), it was found that birds .3+ contained polypeptides H1.b1 and H1.b'1; birds .3-, polypeptides H1.b2 and H1.b'2 with lower apparent molecular weights; and birds .3+/.3-, both types of polypeptides in equal proportions. The H1.b2 + H1.b'2 complement was not discernible in SDS gels, for it migrated together with H1.c' within band H1.4. It was found that a small number of birds lacking the H1.2 band in SDS gels failed to express histone H1.a. Since birds with phenotype .2- with a defective allele of the gene H1.a were simultaneously lacking the H1.3 band, it seems that the imperfect allele of the H1.a gene might be closely linked to the alleles producing H1.b2 + H1.b'2.     

叶甲亚科五种昆虫的酯酶同工酶研究

应用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳方法分析研究了叶甲亚科五种昆虫的酯酶同工酶的酶谱,结果表明该法与形态学分类的效果一致。     

Genetic control and population survey of transferrin in the Japanese quail

Transferrin types in the Japanese quail Coturnix coturnix japonica are controlled by a single autosomal locus Tf with at least two codominant alleles Tf^B and Tf^c. The frequencies of Tf^B and Tf^c in a commercial population of the domestic quail were 1.00 and 0.00, respectively.
Previous studies demonstrated that in the domestic populations of the Japanese quail three electrophoretic patterns AB, B and BC existed in egg white conalbumin and that the electrophoretic variation of conalbumin occurred in parallel with that of serum transferrin. Furthermore, from the preliminary mating experiments the transferrin-conalbumin variation was proposed to be under the control of at least two codominant alleles 77^s and Tf^c at an autosomal locus (Kimura et al., 1977, 1978).
The present study was designed (1) to report a large amount of family data from three generations in order to support the previously published hypothesis on genetic control of electrophoretic patterns of transferrin, and (2) to survey the gene constitution of transferrin in a commercial population of the domestic quail.
Sera were added with iron, heated for 5 min at 65°C (Stratil, 1967), then were investigated by means of horizontal starch gel electrophoresis. Hydrolysed starch from Connaught Medical Laboratories, Toronto, was used. A discontinuous citrate/Tris/LiOH/borate buffer system (pH 8.0) of Ferguson & Wallace (1961) was employed. The gels were stained with Amido Black 10B.     

节节麦的酯酶同工酶分析

对 30份不同来源的节节麦进行 4个时期的酯酶同工酶分析。结果表明 :不同来源节节麦的酯酶同工酶存在较大差异 ,共分成 1 5种基本类型。我国黄河流域的 1 0份节节麦被划分为 2个基本类型 ,但二者关系极为相近 ;新疆节节麦与之有一定差异 ,但在相似系数≤ 0 .82 0时可视为一类。所有材料在 4个时期之间没有出现一个完全相同的酶带类型 ,说明酯酶同工酶随发育时期而不断变化。     

Genetic variation at isozyme loci in blue whiting from the north-east Atlantic

Genetic variation in blue whiting Micromesistius poutassou was investigated by starch gel electrophoresis of enzymes in tissue extracts. A total of 130 specimens from the spawning areas west of the British Isles were collected from trawl catches in 1990 ( n = 30) and 1992 ( n = 100). In 25 tissue enzyme loci screened for genetic variants in the 1990 sample, polymorphisms (0.95 criterion) were found at IDDH-2 *, IDHP-2 * and PGM-1 *, giving a frequency of polymorphic loci of P _0.95= 0.12. In pooled samples the average heterozygosity per locus was estimated at H _e =0.043 and the effective number of alleles per locus at 2.20, 1.45 and 1.53, respectively, for IDDH-2 *, IDHP-2 * and PGM-1 *.     

Genetic variation in a population of the wild quail Coturnix coturnix japonica

To investigate genetic variation and to compare it with those of domestic quail populations, enzymatic and non-enzymatic proteins in a wild quail population were examined electrophoretically.
The wild quail population had a genetic variability considerably lower than those of domestic populations. The average heterozygosity estimated for 22 loci was 0.090 in the wild quail population.     

Genetic variation of esterase D (EsD) polymorphism in Indian populations

Data are presented on the phenotypes and gene frequencies of esterase D (EsD) polymorphism in various endogamous caste groups of Patiala and Faridkot districts of Punjab, north-west India. The frequency of the EsD2 allele in these groups varies from a minimum of 0.157 in Khatris to a maximum of 0.253 in Ramdasia Sikhs, a range quite typical of the north Indian populations. Examination of the available data on esterase D system in indigenous populations demonstrates the existence of a north-south cline in the distribution of the EsD2 allele in India.     

Genetic bases of isozyme variation for alkaline phosphatase and glucosephosphate isomerase in Solanum

Summary Genetic bases of isozyme phenotypes of alkaline phosphatase (AKP) and glucosephosphate isomerase (GpI) from tuber extracts of potato species of the genus Solanum were investigated by starch gel electrophoresis. Data were obtained from reciprocal F₁ matings of S. tuberosum X ssp. andigena (Juz. & Buk.) Hawkes and ssp. tuberosum X (S. phureja X S. chacoense) and BC₁ matings where ssp. tuberosum was the recurrent parent. AKP and GPI are dimeric enzymes and the variation observed for each was found to be coded by single tetrasomic loci (Akp and Gpi) with three (A, A, A) and five (G, G, G, G, G) alleles, respectively. Although the G and G encoded homodimers have similar electrophoretic mobilities, the specific enzymatic activity of the G encoded homodimer is approximately 25% that of the G. The predictable genetic bases for these two enzymatic polymorphisms make them suitable for use as genetic markers in the potato. Chromosome mapping of the loci which encode these enzymes is now possible.Pennsylvania Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Series No. 6663     

Genetic variation as a tool for histochemical localization of a nonspecific esterase

A prominent esterase activity was demonstrated histochemically in the straight portion of the proximal tubules in kidney of the mouse strain DBA/2J after inhibition with bis-p-nitrophenyl phosphate and subsequent staining, using 5-bromoindoxyl acetate as substrate. In the strain PUC/1Fre, the corresponding esterase was only weakly expressed. By comparing data from the literature (von Deimling et al. 1981) with the characteristic features of this kidney esterase including substrate preference, sensitivity to inhibitors, solubility, histochemical location, and strain differences, it was concluded that it was identical with the previously electrophoretically defined esterase-16.     

Genetic relationships among annual species of Cicer(Fabaceae) using isozyme variation

In order to determine the pattern of genetic diversity within and among the species of Cicer and to estimate interspecific genetic relationships, allelic variation was assayed for 23 isozyme loci in 63 accessions of 11 species of Cicer using starch gel electrophoresis. The total allozymic variation observed in the genus (H _t )was equal to 0.60. When partitioned (G st), 96% of this allelic diversity was found among rather than within species. The allelic diversity among species (D st)and allelic diversity within species (H s)were equal to 0.58 and 0.02, respectively. Cicer reticulatum and C. pinnatifidum had the highest proportion of polymorphic loci (17.39%) and the highest mean number of alleles per locus (1.22 and 1.17, respectively). UPGMA cluster analysis of Nei's unbiased genetic distance revealed four genetic groups. One includes C. reticulatum, C. arietinum and C. echino spermum where the first 2 species represent a putative derivative-progenitor pair. A second cluster contains C. bijugum, C. pinnatifidum and C. judaicum. Cicer yamashitae, C. chorassanicum, C. anatolicum and C. songoricum form a third group. Finally, C. cuneatum, which has a very distinct isozyme profile and peculiar morphological features, is the only member of a fourth species group. This species grouping agrees partially with those obtained from crossability and cytogenetic studies. The results suggest that the annual habit arose from perennial progenitors at least twice in the genus Cicer.     

Genetic parameters of body weight, muscle weight and skeletal characteristics in Japanese quail

Heritability, phenotypic and genetic correlations of body weight, muscle weight and skeletal characteristics of Japanese quail males at 8 weeks of age were investigated to obtain basal information on breeding and on genetic monitoring by morphometrical methods. For this study, 221 male progenies were used. Measurements were taken on body weight, muscle weight and four kind of skeletal characteristics (skeletal weight, skeletal length, skeletal width and skeletal height). Heritability estimates were 0.67 for body weight, 0.36 to 0.56 for muscle weight, 0.79 to 0.94 for skeletal weight, 0.35 to 0.77 for skeletal length, 0.17 to 0.32 for skeletal width and 0.41 to 0.84 for skeletal height, respectively. The phenotypic and genetic correlations were found to be highly positive between body weight, muscle weight and skeletal length. A high degree of genetic correlation was observed between femur length, ossa cruris length and ossa metatarsalia length. These results suggest that the body weight, muscle weight and skeletal characteristics can be improved by breeding and that these genetically determined skeletal characteristics might serve for strain identification and genetic monitoring in Japanese quail.     

Genetic variation as a tool for histochemical localization of a nonspecific esterase

Summary A prominent esterase activity was demonstrated histochemically in the straight portion of the proximal tubules in kidney of the mouse strain DBA/2J after inhibition with bis-p-nitrophenyl phosphate and subsequent staining, using 5-bromoindoxyl acetate as substrate. In the strain PUC/1Fre, the corresponding esterase was only weakly expressed. By comparing data from the literature (von Deimling et al. 1981) with the characteristic features of this kidney esterase including substrate preference, sensitivity to inhibitors, solubility, histochemical location, and strain differences, it was concluded that it was identical with the previously electrophoretically defined esterase-16.Dedicated to Professor Dr. T.H. Schiebler on the occasion of his 65th birthday