Variation of some serum proteins in red deer, Cervus elaphus L

Genetic polymorphism of plasminogen and vitamin D binding protein in red deer (Cervus elaphus L.)

Genetic polymorphism was detected in the red deer (Cervus elaphus L.), plasma proteins, plasminogen (PLG) and vitamin D binding protein (GC) using antiserum to human proteins. The affinity of the antisera to deer plasma was less than 10% that of a human standard but they bound specifically to proteins of molecular weight expected for GC and PLG. Three codominant alleles of GC and five of PLG were observed. In a set 124 farmed deer calves and their parents, six calves had genotypes which were not consistent with the expectations of inheritance. Further inconsistencies were found when variation in isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) and transferrin (TRF) was examined. Using genetic models which included pedigree error parameters the data were shown to be consistent with genetic inheritance of all loci in a data set containing approximately 4.8% (SE 1.4%) parent-progeny pedigree mismatches. In samples from four deer populations representative of the red deer introduced to New Zealand the GC and PLG polymorphisms provided a probability of paternity exclusion (PE) of between 0.34 and 0.54 and when IDH and TRF were also included the PE was between 0.46 and 0.66. The four populations differed significantly in allele frequency, which supports historical evidence that they originate from separate introductions of small numbers of European red deer.

Pig plasma alpha-protease inhibitors PI2, PI3 and PI4 are members of the antichymotrypsin family

Three related alpha-protease inhibitors, PI2 I, PI3 C and PI4 C2, of blood serum of the pig (Sus scrofa) were isolated. PI2 I inhibited both trypsin and chymotrypsin; PI3 C and PI4 C2 strongly inhibited chymotrypsin, but did not significantly inhibit trypsin. By using SDS-PAGE, the three proteins were found to be composed of single polypeptide chains, and molecular weights were 63,000 for PI2 I, 58,000 for PI3 C and 64,000 for PI4 C2. All three proteins were shown to be glycoproteins. In PI3 C, eight sialic acid residues were found, and in PI4 C2 (similarly as in PI2 F) 10-11 residues were found. Amino acid composition as well as N-terminal sequences of the three proteins were very similar, indicating close homology. Comparison of these partial amino acid sequences with the cDNA-deduced amino acid sequence of pig alpha-antichymotrypsin (AACT; Buchman, 1989, GenBank, Accession No. M29508) revealed great similarities, the sequence of PI2 I being virtually identical with the pig AACT. On the basis of all available results, PI2 is proposed to be pig AACT, an orthologue of human AACT.

Intraspecific variation in serum proteins of brown hare (Lepus europaeus Pallas, 1778)

1. Serum proteins of brown hare (Lepus europaeus Pallas, 1778) were studied by the use of 1D PAGE, 2D agarose-PAGE, immunoblotting, inhibitions of trypsin and chymotrypsin, and specific staining for esterase. 2. Some serum proteins were identified, and easily interpretable polymorphisms were found in transferrin alpha 1B glycoprotein, protease inhibitors ATC2, ATC3 and AT1, esterase ES1 and in an unidentified postalbumin PO. 3. On the basis of family studies the evidence was obtained that the variants observed in these polymorphic proteins are under genetic control by codominant alleles of autosomal loci.

A new, partially deficient transferrin variant in the pig

A new, partially deficient transferrin variant (TFF) was found in serum samples of a wild boar and his offspring from crossing with Pietrain sows. Family analyses confirmed its genetic control by a codominant allele, TFF. Finding of this new variant has brought the total number of pig transferrin variants to nine (F, I, A, B, C, X, D', E, D).

Caprine plasma proteinase inhibitors--II. Genetic analysis

1. Analysis of the inheritances of the variants of five caprine plasma proteinase inhibitor systems in families demonstrated a genetic control of codominant alleles at five loci. 2. The PIA, B, C, D and E proteins are controlled by four (PIA1,2,3,4), three (PIB1,4,0), three (PIC2,3,0), five (PID1,2,3,4,0) and two (PIE1,2) alleles respectively. Null alleles were postulated for the PIB, PIC and PID systems. 3. The frequencies of the alleles differed substantially between the Australian and Texan Angoras and Cashmere breeds of goats. 4. The combined exclusion probability for the five PI systems was as high as 0.82 in the Cashmere breed, indicating the potential of the proteinase inhibitor proteins for parentage control purposes.

Caprine plasma proteinase inhibitors--I. Partial characterization

1. Using two-dimensional electrophoresis (IEF, pH 3.5-6.0 and PAGE, 11.5% T, pH 7.9) the caprine plasma proteinase inhibitors were classified into six distinct classes, designated PIA, PIB, PIC, PID, PIE and PIF. Differentiation of the six inhibitors was based on electrophoretic criteria, their abilities to inhibit bovine trypsin and chymotrypsin and their crossreactions with antisera to human alpha 1-antitrypsin and alpha 1-antichymotrypsin. 2. Polymorphic variants were identified for five of the protein systems (PIA, PIB, PIC, PID and PIE) and the electrophoretic data indicated that the variants were controlled by allelic genes. PIF proteins were poorly resolved and invariant. 3. Treatment of selected plasmas with neuraminidase demonstrated that the microheterogeneity observed in the PIA, PIB, PIC and PID proteins was attributable to sialic acid additions. 4. The inhibitory activities of all six caprine proteinase inhibitors were unaffected by chemical oxidation with chloramine-T.

Genetic polymorphism of serum vitamin D-binding protein (GC) in sheep and mouflon

One-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (1D PAGE) followed by immunoblotting revealed genetic polymorphism of GC protein in sheep (variants F, S, V) and mouflon (variants F and S, apparently identical to F and S of sheep). The frequency of Gcs allele ranged from 0.84 to 1.0 in the 12 breeds of sheep studied. GcV allele was observed only in Tsigai breed with a frequency of 0.017.