Predominant African-derived mtDNA in Caribbean and Brazilian Creole cattle is also found in Spanish cattle (Bos taurus)

African-derived mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) have been described in South American and Caribbean native cattle populations, which could have been introduced into America from Iberia or by direct importation from Africa. However, the similarity among described haplotypes is not known. We examined mtDNA variation in Guadeloupe Creole and Spanish cattle in an attempt to identify African-derived mtDNA haplotypes and compare them with those previously described. Eleven haplotypes clustered into the European taurine haplogroup (T3), two haplotypes into the African taurine (T1) haplogroup, and three haplotypes into the African-derived American haplogroup (AA). The AA1 and Eucons haplotypes were the most frequently observed. The presence of the AA haplogroup in Spanish cattle confirms historical records and genetic evidence of Iberian cattle as the main source of American native cattle origin. The possible origin of African-derived mitochondrial haplotypes in Iberian and Creole cattle is discussed, and the accumulated evidence does not support a founder effect from African ancestral cattle by direct importations. The presence of taurine AA and T3 haplotypes in Brazilian Nellore may indicate introgression by local European-derived cattle. Data presented in this work will contribute to the understanding of the origin of Guadeloupe Creole cattle.

African dung beetle Onthophagus gazella Fabricius (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) esterase isozymes

African beetles Onthophagus gazella from both sexes were analyzed by electrophoresis for an investigation of esterase isozymes using alpha-naphthyl propionate and methylumbelliferyl propionate as substrates. Only one of the esterases (Est. 6) reacted with one of the substrates (alpha-naphthyl propionate). Six areas of activity were found, two of them being polymorphic (Est. 3 and Est. 4). For presence of Est. 3, 337 individuals were analyzed, including descendants of 32 controlled crossings: two alleles were identified, whose frequencies are Est. 3A = 0.447 and Est. 3B = 0.553. The population is in equilibrium for this locus (qui-square = 4.18; 0.2 > P > 0.1). For Est. 4, 338 individuals, descendants of 32 controlled crossings, were analysed. In this case, three alleles were identified whose frequencies are: Est. 4A = 0.277; Est. 4B = 0.661; and Est. 4C = 0.062. The population is not in equilibrium for this locus (qui-square = 40.259; p < 0.001). Two esterases were detected only in the pupal stage and another one in larvae. Of the 23 loci analyzed in these insects up to now, 3 are polymorphic (13%), which indicates very low variability in the population here studied.

Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) in exon 2 of the BoLA-DRB3 gene in South American cattle

The Bola-DRB3 gene participates in the development of the immune response and is highly polymorphic. For these reasons, it has been a candidate gene in studies of the genetic basis of disease resistance and in population genetic analysis. South American native cattle breeds have been widely replaced by improved exotic breeds leading to a loss of genetic resources. In particular, South American native breeds have high levels of fertility and disease resistance. This work describes genetic variability in the BoLA-DRB3 gene in native (Caracu, Pantaneiro, Argentinean Creole) and exotic (Holstein, Jersey, Nelore, Gir) cattle breeds in Brazil and Argentina. PCR-RFLP alleles were identified by combining the restriction patterns for the BoLA-DRB3.2 locus obtained with RsaI, BstY and HaeIII restriction enzymes. Allelic frequencies and deviations from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were also calculated. Analysis of the 24 BoLA-DRB3 PCR-RFLP alleles identified showed differences in the allele distributions among breeds.

Effect of sub-MICs of antimycotics on expression of intracellular esterase of Trichophyton rubrum

The electrophoretic pattern of the intracellular esterase of the dermatophyte Trichophyton rubrum was altered when this fungus was grown in the presence of subinhibitory concentrations of the antimycotics tioconazole or griseofulvin. All strains (original isolate and antimycotic resistant mutants) presented five clearly visible bands when cultivated on medium containing below-minimum inhibitory concentrations (sub-MICs) of tioconazole or griseofulvin, and only two clearly visible bands when cultivated in medium without antimycotics. No extra bands were detected in the electrophoretic patterns of the extracellular esterase of these fungi (mutants or the original isolate) when cultivated with or without tioconazole or griseofulvin (sub-MIC values). These results suggest that additional forms of esterase are produced inside the cell and may be a nonspecific response to cellular stress, or may participate in cellular detoxification processes in the presence of these antimycotics.

Structure and genetic relationship among Brazilian naturalized and imported goat breeds

Fourteen goat populations were studied regarding their genetic relationship and structure. Parameters of genetic diversity (HT, HS and GST) and F statistic (FIS, FIT and FST) were estimated. Undefined breed populations presented high homogeneity, as did imported breed populations. Naturalized breed populations showed high differentiation. The genetic distances separating these 14 goat populations were calculated from gene frequency data for eight blood genetic markers (esterase D, phosphoglucomutase 1, carbonic anhydrase II, peptidase B, amylase, haemoglobin, transferrin, and protein X). Working with the genetic distance matrix of Nei corrected for small samples (DA), we constructed a dendrogram using the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean. DA values ranged from 0.0027 to 0.1518. The dendrogram divided the populations into two groups, one consisting of three populations of naturalized breeds, and another including the other populations (imported breeds, undefined breeds and some other naturalized breeds).

Enzymatic variability in natural populations of Aedes aegypti (Diptera:Culicidae) from Brazil

Yellowfever mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti (L), were collected from 3 towns located within 70 km of each other in the State of Sao Paulo to evaluate the protein variability of natural populations. Electrophoretic analysis permitted the identification of 6 loci responsible for the production of leucine aminopeptidase, 3 for esterases and malic enzyme, 2 for malate dehydrogenase, isocitrate dehydrogenase and alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase, and 1 for phosphoglucomutase. For the 3 populations, the range for alleles per locus (1.63-2.03), the proportion of polymorphic loci (37.5-50.0%), and the expected mean heterozygosity (0.48-0.53) were greater than reported for other populations of A. aegypti. Although the 3 populations were similar genetically, the 1.8% differentiation was significant.

Biology of Amazonian anopheline. XX. Ontogeny of esterases, leucine aminopeptidase and alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase in Anopheles (Nyssorhynchus) darlingi Root, 1926 (Diptera, Culicidae)

The esterases, leucine aminopeptidase and alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase revealed modifications in gene expressions during the development of Anopheles darlingi. The esterases showed five activity bands, 1 and 2 being more deeply stained during the larval stages than in pupae or adults, esterases 3 and 4 more deeply stained in pupae and adults whereas esterase 5 was present throughout development. Leucine aminopeptidase showed five activity bands: LAP2 and LAP5 were characteristic of larvae, LAP3 was specific for pupae and adults, LAP4 was detected only in pupae, and LAP1 and LAP6 were detected in all stages. alpha-Glycerophosphate dehydrogenase presented one activity band on starch gel whose intensity increased with development. Two activity bands were detected on polyacrylamide gel (alpha-GPDH1 and alpha-GPDH2) in 4th-instar larvae (old pigmented larvae) and this activity increased with development.

[Isoenzymatic characterization of the hexokinase in the development of Plebeia droryana (Hymenoptera, Apidae) and its relation with flight activity]

Hexokinase enzyme was studied by means of starch-agarose gel electrophoresis in Plebeia droryana. Three anodal bands with enzyme activity were observed during the development: hexokinase-1 (HK-1), the intensity of which increases from larvae to adult, probably related with energy supply to thoracic flight muscles and, therefore, with flight activity; hexokinase-2 (HK-2), that reaches maximum intensity in clear brown eyed pupae and hexokinase-3 (HK-3), the intensity of which reaches maximum peak in winged pupae and is not observed in the adult phase. This isozyme should have important functions in the bee metamorphosis.

Isoenzymes related to flight activity in Tetragonisca angustula (Hymenoptera:Apidae:Meliponinae): evidence of postranslational modification of the hexokinase and detection of new glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase variants

To detect genetic markers, electrophoretic analyses were carried out on Tetragonisca angustula, a stingless bee well adapted to its wide area of occurrence, which is becoming economically important because of the quality of its honey. Polymorphism of the enzyme hexokinase was detected and it was demonstrated that, although it presents two bands in meliponines, this enzyme is under the control of a single locus whose product probably undergoes postranslational modification. The more common allele occurs in the two Tetragonisca subspecies studied here, but the other seems to be characteristic of only one subspecies. Four variants involving the two glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase loci are also described. These two enzymes share the property of presenting two electrophoretic bands, one of which is characteristic of actively flying adult thoraces.

Glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase isozyme variation in adult meliponids (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-3-PDH) isozymes were investigated in several bee and wasp species to verify if variations detected in G-3-PDH-2 isozymes are closely related to the age and activity of adult workers in the nest or hive of social species. In the solitary, the semisocial, and one social bee species, no phenotypic variations were detected for G-3-PDH-2 isozymes, and this was also the case for all wasp species investigated which were characterized as social. These results allow us to suggest that the variation detected in G-3-PDH-2 isozymes is a phenomenon closely related not only to adult age and activity in the hive, but also to a gradual acquisition of the ability to fly, which is not present in newly emerged worker meliponids in particular.

Glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-3-PDH; EC 1.1.1.8) variation in Brazilian stingless bees and in wasp species

In only 1 bee species (Tetragona clavipes) of 24 sampled in 145 colonies (0.69%) did we detect the presence of more than one allele for glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.8), an enzyme that is involved in flight. In 34 colonies containing 9 wasp species, 5 colonies of only 2 species (Polybia paulista and P. sericea) showed variation in larval G-3-PDH (14.7%). The small amount of variation observed for the G-3-PDH-1 locus in the bee and wasp species analyzed in the present study agrees with that reported for the G-3-PDH system in other insects.

Genetic control and development expression of malate dehydrogenase in Apis mellifera

Starch gel electrophoresis of extracts of Apis mellifera indicates that genetic variability exists for the enzyme cytoplasmic malate dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.1.1.37). Analysis of individuals throughout development indicates that the isozyme patterns are identical for larvae and adults and suggests a dimeric structure for the molecule. The isozyme pattern observed in pupae is more complex than that of larvae and adults may be due to an additional pupal-specific MDH gene being expressed or to an epigenetic modification of the isozymes. Forty-three colonies with artificially inseminated queens were used to study the Mendelian pattern of inheritance. The data revealed that the MDH isozymes are encoded by three alleles, Mdh-1A, Mdh-1B, and Mdh-1C. The frequency of the Mdh-1 alleles is different in two analyzed subspecies, A. m. adansonii (African bees) and A. m. ligustica (Italian bees), with Mdh-1A and Mdh-1B in the African bees being 0-768 and 0.202, respectively. For the Italian bees, these frequencies are 0.136 and 0:154, respectively.

Alcohol dehydrogenase polymorphism in Apis mellifera

A polymorphic system of ADH isozymes is described in the honeybee Apis mellifera. Three and six different electrophoretic patterns were found, respectively, in drone and worker pupae analysis. The data indicate that the ADH isozymes are controlled by three alleles, Adh-1(1), Adh-1(2), and Adh-1(3). The frequency of the Adh-1 alleles is different in two analyzed subspecies, Apis mellifera adansonii (African bees) and Apis mellifera ligustica (Italian bees). In the African bees, the frequencies are 0.256 and 0.697 for Adh-1(1) and Adh-1(2), respectively. In the Italian bees, these values are shown to be 0.902 and 0.098, respectively. The allele Adh-1(3) was not detected in the Italian bee population. The effect of NAD on the resolution of this system was investigated, and only one region of ADH activity was obtained in drone pupae analysis when NAD was used in the gels. However, two different regions of activity were observed in the same samples, in the absence of the coenzyme. ADH activity was not detected in young larvae, but it increased to a maximum in prepupal and white-eyed pupal phases. It then declined progressively to total absence in the emerging bees.

The P-3 and EST loci in the honeybee Apis mellifera

Data for Apis mellifera indicate that the P-3 proteins and one esterase enzyme are controlled by two genes, P-3 and Est, with two alleles each. The frequency of the P-3 alleles is different in the two subspecies (adansonii and ligustica), that for P-3(F) in Italian bees being 46.9% and in African 0.5%. The frequency of Est(F) is 2.8% in both populations. The Est locus has two codominant alleles and the locus P-3 has two incompletely dominant alleles; the heterozygote P-3( S)/P-3(F) shows only an intermediate band. The two loci are not genetically linked.