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The electrophoretic variation in bovine hemoglobin-beta (HBB) is one of the most investigated genetic markers. The presence of a unique HBB variant, HBB(X), in Southeast Asian cattle has been reputed as a sign of gene-flow from wild bovine species. In this study, we analyzed the DNA sequences of HBB genes in domestic and wild bovine species to verify this belief. Isoelectric focusing of HBB chain revealed that the HBB(X) in domestic cattle had dimorphism and was separated into HBB(X1) and HBB(X2). The HBB(X1) had the same DNA sequence of the common HBB variant in gayal (Bos gaurus frontalis), while some of the HBB(X2) were identical with that of Cambodian banteng (Bos javanicus birmanicus). As a result, we confirmed that the bovine HBB variants can be a good indicator of introgression between wild and domestic cattle. The HBB(X1) was always predominant to HBB(X2) in the continental populations, suggesting that the gaur had contributed to the gene pool of domestic cattle in this region much more than the banteng. On the other hand, the mitochondrial DNA analysis could not detect gene-flow from wild species. Autosomal markers that can trace the phylogeny between alleles are suitable for the assessment of bovine interspecific introgression.

【In this study, to examine genetic variability within a breed and genetic relationships between populations/breeds, we genotyped 606 birds from seven Japanese native chicken breeds at seven polymorphic loci of egg white proteins and compared those with Asian native chicken populations and commercial breeds. Genotyping of the Japanese native breeds showed that ovalbumin, two ovoglobulins and ovotransferrin were polymorphic, but ovomacroglobulin, ovoflavoprotein and lysozyme were monomorphic. The proportion of polymorphic loci ( $P_{poly}$ ) and average heterozygosity ( $\bar{H}$ ) within a population ranged from 0.286 to 0.429 and from 0.085 to 0.158, respectively. The coefficient of gene differentiation ( $G_{ST}$ ) was 0.250 in the Japanese native chicken breeds. This estimate was higher than that of Asian native chicken populations ( $G_{ST}$ = 0.083) 0.083) and of commercial breeds ( $G_{ST}$ = 0.169) 0.169). Dendrogram and PCA plot showed that Satsuma-dori, Jitokko, Amakusa-daio and Hinai-dori were closely related to each other and grouped into Asian native chickens and that Tsushima-jidori, Nagoya and Chan (Utaichan) were ramified far from other Japanese native chicken breeds. The egg white protein polymorphisms demonstrated that the population differentiation of the seven Japanese native chicken breeds was relatively large.】

Six polymorphic sites of the bovine prion protein gene (PRNP) were genotyped in 569 animals of Asian native cattle, Japanese breeds, purebred mythun (Bos frontalis), and mythun x cattle composite animals. At the 23-bp indel site, a deletion (23-) allele was a major allele in all populations except mythun. At the 12-bp indel site, an insertion (12+) allele was a major allele in all populations. The 14-bp indel site was polymorphic in all Asian native cattle. In the octapeptide repeat region, a six-repeat allele was a major allele in all populations, and 5/5 and 4/6 genotypes were detected in Japanese Black and Mongolian cattle and in mythun, respectively. Two nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (K3T and S154N) were detected in Asian native cattle and mythun. Haplotype analysis using the genotypes of the six sites estimated 33 different haplotypes. The haplotype 23- 12- K 6 S 14+ was found in all populations.

The musk shrew (Suncus murinus) is an insectivore species that inhabits tropical and subtropical Asia widely. To clarify the genetic relationship among wild musk shrew populations, we examined the electrophoretic variants of biparentally inherited genetic markers at 10 loci coding for eight blood proteins/enzymes in a total of 639 animals and compared the results obtained from the mitochondrial DNA data. The principal-component analysis performed using the allele frequency data revealed that the 17 populations could be divided into two major groups, a South Asian group and a Southeast Asian group that includes several island populations bound by Myanmar. The degrees of genetic divergence among populations were higher within the Southeast Asian group than within the South Asian group. This finding was incongruent with the mtDNA diversity. Analysis conducted at the individual level showed that a shrew from the central region in Myanmar that carries a South Asian type of mtDNA showed the electrophoretic variants specific to the Southeast Asian group, suggesting that this region is a contact zone between the two major groups.

A single amino acid substitution between Asn and Ser at position 631 in the chicken Mx protein has been reported to determine resistant and sensitive antiviral activity. In this study, we investigate whether various kinds of chicken breeds and jungle fowls carry the resistant or sensitive Mx allelic gene by using the mismatched PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) technique. In total, 271 samples from 36 strains of 17 chicken breeds and from 3 kinds of jungle fowls were examined. The rates of the resistant Mx gene and sensitive gene were 59.2% and 40.8%, respectively. Only a Red jungle fowl captured in Laos carried the resistant Mx gene, and the other three Red jungle fowls from Indonesia and Gray and Green jungle fowls all had the sensitive Mx gene. These results were confirmed by the determination of amino acid sequences in the GTPase effector domain of jungle fowls.

In this study on Japanese quail, heterosis for weight, growth rate, and fitness traits were estimated and growth curves were fitted to traits and were compared. Crossing (SR) was performed between females of a very small line (SS) which was selected for low body weight at the age of six weeks and males of a randombred population (RR) from the same origin. Heterosis for female body weight was observed at 4 and 6 weeks of age, but it was not significant for adult size in males and females. The four growth curve models of Brody, Logistic, Gompertz and Bertalanffy were compared and the Gompertz model was the most suitable. Heterosis by the Gompertz model was negative for the age at the point of inflexion and the age at the 90% body weight of the asymptote in both sexes, but it was larger for the second trait. There was no heterosis for fertility and viability from 6 weeks up to 100 days of age in the female, but it was significant for hatchability and survival rate up to 6 weeks of age. Large heterosis was found for the age at first egg, the number of eggs and the total egg weight up to 100 days of age. However, the average egg weight of SR was lighter than that of RR, showing no heterosis.

Genetic variations of seven egg white protein loci in 1,112 samples from eight Asian countries (Yunnan province of China, Mongolia, Nepal, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, Indonesia) and 360 samples from two improved breeds (Isa Brown, Boris Brown) were investigated by using starch gel and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Five egg white protein loci (Oν, G 3 , G 2 , G 1 and Tf E W ) were found to be polymorphic in Asian native chicken populations. The proportion of polymorphic loci (P p o l y ) and average heterozygosity (H) of Asian native populations varied from 0.143 to 0.714 and 0.014 to 0.225, respectively, and were higher than those of improved breeds. The subdivision index (G S T ) value among 18 native chicken populations in Asia is lower (0.0827) than among improved chicken populations (0.1693). This value means that the degree of subdivision among Asian native populations is lower than among improved breeds and gene constitutions among populations in Asia are similar.

Apolipoprotein E (apoE) phenotypes were determined in 199 unrelated native sheep (Khalkhas line) of Central Mongolia, using a polyacrylamide gel isoelectric focusing-immunoblotting technique, and the plasma lipid levels in different phenotypes were assayed enzymatically. Twenty-eight phenotypes were identified in this sheep. In addition to all the previously detected seven apoE variants composing the phenotypes, four new variants were discovered, which were called E8, E9, E10, and E11. From the population data, these were found to be genetically controlled by four codominant alleles, designated APOE8, APOE9, APOE10, and APOE11, based on the same mode of inheritance as in the seven variants. These alleles were detected at a low frequency, in the range of 0.005 to 0.0126. The Khalkhas sheep differed most significantly from the Baruwal and Lampuchhre sheep of Nepal and the Vietnamese sheep with respect to the allele frequencies found in some Asian local sheep previously examined. Type 1/1 and/or 2/7 sheep had significantly higher plasma levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol than type 7/7 sheep (P < 0.05 and/or P < 0.02).

Insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) is essential for the signalling of growth. In this study, we performed single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) detection in the Japanese quail IGF1R coding region and an association study between SNPs and body weight in two lines (SS and LL) selected for large and small body weight. Of 21 SNPs obtained, a SNP at position AB292766:c.2293G>A led to the replacement of a valine with an isoleucine (V765I). The two lines were fixed for alternate alleles, with allele encoding valine fixed in the LL line. A significant effect of the SNP genotype was found on 10-week body weight (P < 0.01) and on 4- to 10-week and 6- to 10-week average daily gain (P < 0.05) in the F(2) family obtained from lines LL and SS. In six populations maintained in Japan or France, the frequency of allele encoding valine was higher than the allele encoding isoleucine.

Egg white samples from native chicken were collected in 12 local populations in Indonesia. Polymorphisms of egg white protein were analyzed by using starch and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. 1) Polymorphism was found at 5 loci (Ov, G3, G2, TfEW and G1). 2) The variant of lysozyme was detected in only Ungaran population (qG1F=0.853, qG1S=0.147). 3) Average heterozygosities of each local population, subdivision index and genetic distance among local population were estimated as 0.028 to 0.141, 0.076 and 0.001 to 0.037 respectively. Genetic distances and degree of subdivision among local populations in Indonesia except Ungaran population were assumed as small.

The present study was done to evaluate and compare the genetic variability at initial generation in an experiment which was conducted to evaluate the heterosis effect in lines under different modes of selection for egg production using Jouy and Tours strains maintained in INRA. Genetic variability was analyzed for 6 lines (lines 1, 2, 3, 4, C and D) of the both strains by 10 protein loci (Hb-1, Alb, Tf, Es-D, Es-2, 6PGD, ADH, Acp, Prt and Amy). The values of Ppoly were calculated as 0.500-0.600 in Jouy strain and 0.70 in Tours strain. The values of H varied from 0.182 to 0.193 in Jouy strain and from 0.220 to 0.232 in Tours strain. Coefficients of gene differentiation (GST) among line was calculated as 0.019. This values suggests that genetic differentiation among the 6 lines is small. Based on genetic distance data, dendrograms were drawn by unweighted pair group method. Six lines were clustered in two groups. One group is composed of line 1, line 3 and line C, and the other group is composed of line 2, line 4 and line D. Based on 9 loci except Prt locus, genetic relationship among 6 lines in INRA and 6 laboratory populations in Japan was investigated. Genetic distances were calculated as 0.001-0.009 within INRA, 0.029-0.089 within Japanese stock and 0.081-0.184 between INRA stock and Japanese stock. GST calculated from gene frequency of 12 quail lines in INRA and Japan was estimated as 0.191 which is higher than the value among lines within INRA. This results suggest this genetic differentiation between INRA and Japan is larger than between lines in INRA stock and between laboratory lines in Japan. A dendrogram composed of the 12 quail lines showed two different clusters of six lines of INRA and 6 laboratory lines in Japan. These results suggest that gene constitution between quail lines in France and in Japan widely different.

In the present study, genomic DNA was prepared from dried chicken blood sample and subsequently used for analyzing DNA fingerprinting (DFP) of native and Red jungle fowl in the South Pacific Islands. These chicken genomic DNAs were sufficient in quantity and purity for multiple DFP analyses, and chicken blood could be stored for up to 3 months without physical degradation under dry condition.The DFP analyses were carried out by individual and population DFP. Similarities of DFP patterns and genetic distances among fowls in Fiji and Western Samoa were estimated using band sharing (BS) value and the mean number of nucleotide substitutions per nucleotide site, respectively. The results of population DFP were under the influence of data in individual DFP. From the BS values and genetic distances, the native fowls in five different islands of Fiji and Western Samoa could be distinguished in each island, and the difference was consistent with geographical distribution. Fijian and Western Samoan native fowls were found to form two separate groups. The Red jungle fowls in Fiji islands were closely related to each other, but were found to be related remotely to Red jungle fowls in Kagoshima University. Therefore, DFP analysis can be used to estimate relative genetic variability and to reconstruct the evolutionary relationships in small populations genetically isolated.

Most of the triacylglycerol hydrolase activity in the hen liver showed its maximum activity at pH 6.0 and at 40°C. The hydrolase activity was markedly inhibited by serum of the laying hen. At 145 and 167 days of age, the activity was markedly decreased to less than one half that in the young hen. The hydrolase activity in cockerel was monitored to compare with that of hen. In cockerels, the hydrolase activity tended to increase with age of days. On estrogenization of the male chicks, the hydrolase activity in the liver was significantly decreased in contrast to an increase in lipid content in the liver. These observations suggest that the degradation of triacylglycerol in the liver is regulated by estradiol with the increase in lipogenesis for egg production.

The present study was conducted to clarify the changes of calpain and calpastatin activities in skeletal muscle as a function of growth rate at advancing age of commercial chickens, using male broiler and layer chickens of 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks of age. The body weight of broilers were significantly greater than those of layers (P

Oligonucleotide probes specific for simple tandem repeat sequences produce individual specific DNA fingerprints in man and animal species tested so far. In the present study, a polynucleotide (TG)n was used to investigate DNA fingerprint variability in three breeds (Thoroughbred, Tokara horse and Noma horse) in order to clarify the relationships among Japanese native horses by using DNA fingerprinting (DFP). Estimates of the probabilities of finding identical fingerprints in two unrelated individuals of different breeds were in the range from 2.1×10-1 to 3.6×10-5.Similarities in DFP patterns between individuals were estimated by using the band sharing (BS) value. From the BS values, individuals within breeds tended to be more similar to each other with regard to DFP pattern than to individuals of other breeds. Furthermore, the genetic distance among the horse breeds was estimated as the mean number of nucleotide substitutions per nucleotide site. All individuals of three different ferent breeds were distributed into particular clusters and the Tokara horse was far from other breeds. DFP analysis can therefore be effectively used to assess the genetic relationship among breeds of horses.

The present study was conducted to know the correlation between both the calpain and calpastatin activities in the skeletal muscle and fractional growth rate (FGR) in normal growth condition using male Satsuma native fowl. FGR was expressed as the ratio of daily gain calculated by the daily gain during 2-3 weeks of age to body weight at 2 weeks of age. The 14 experimental birds with same initial body weight at 2 weeks of age (110g/bird) were selected from 175 birds.The mean of body weight at 3 weeks of age (g) and FGR (%/day) were 207.5±11.9 and 12.66±1.54, respectively. Calpain activities in units/g muscle and units/mg extractable muscle protein were 1.023±0.093 and 0.024±0.004, respectively. The calpastatin activities in units/g muscle and units/mg extractable muscle protein were 0.287±0.027 and 0.013±0.003, respectively. The correlation coefficient between calpain activity in units/g muscle and FGR was -0.66. But, there was no significant correlation between either activities of calpain (units/mg extractable muscle protein) and calpastatin (units/g muscle and units/mg extractable muscle protein) and FGR.

The origin of the domestic fowl and its relationship to the jungle fowl is a continuing interest to the scientists working with poultry. The present study was conducted in order to clarify the relationships among the domestic and jungle fowls using DNA fingerprinting (DFP). These DFP analyses were carried out by mixing equal amounts of DNA from several individuals of a particular population, resulting in a DFP parttern characteristic of the population. Similarities of DFP pattern between breeds or species of fowl were estimated using band sharing (BS) value. From the BS values, the Japanese native stocks and Chinese native stocks were found to form two separate groups, respectively. BS values between Green Jungle Fowl and all other stocks were generally low. Genetic distance among the domestic and jungle fowls was estimated as the mean number of nucleotide substitutions per nucleotide site. The results indicated that Red Jungle Fowl was relatively close to the domestic fowls. On the other hand, Green Jungle Fowl was found to be related most remotely to the domestic fowls. Thus, DFP analysis with mixed DNA could be effectively used to assess the genetic relationship among the stocks of fowls.

The present study was conducted to analyze biochemical marker genes and to clarify genetic variation in 4 Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) strains (MGS/Sea, MON/Jms Gbs, Kwl: Mongolian Gerbil and Hos: Mongolian gerbil) maintained in Japan. Cellulose acetate, starch gel or agar gel electrophoresis was used. Of the 23 kinds of proteins detected, variation was found only in liver acid phosphatase (Acp2); no variation in other proteins was found within or among strains. The results suggest that these 4 Mongolian gerbil strains are genetically similar. A strain difference was found in the Acp2 locus of liver acid phosphatase. The Kwl: Mongolian Gerbil strain had a band of Acp2 locus, whereas MGS/Sea, MON/Jms and Hos: Mongolian gerbil strains did not.

BACKGROUND: Prion protein (PrP) level plays the central role in bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) susceptibility. Increasing the level of PrP decreases incubation period for this disease. Therefore, studying the expression of the cellular PrP or at least the messenger RNA might be used in selection for preventing the propagation of BSE and other prion diseases. Two insertion/deletion (indel) variations have been tentatively associated with susceptibility/resistance of cattle to classical BSE. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We studied the expression of each genotype at the two indel sites in Japanese Black (JB) and Japanese Brown (JBr) cattle breeds by a standard curve method of real-time PCR. Five diplotypes subdivided into two categories were selected from each breed. The two cattle breeds were considered differently. Expression of PRNP was significantly (p0.05). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the del/del genotype or at least its del allele may modulate the expression of PRNP at the 23-bp locus in the medulla oblongata of these cattle breeds.

The mithun (Bos frontalis), synonymous with mithan and gayal, is considered to be a domesticated form of gaur (B. gaurus). However, there has been a controversy concerning its origin. In an effort to address this issue, the mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb) genes of 20 mithun from Myanmar and 13 from Bhutan were sequenced to trace its maternal origin. Seven cytb haplotypes were found in the 33 mithun, and the phylogenetic tree for these haplotypes clearly showed three embranchments involving five gaur types, a B. indicus type, and a B. taurus type. Sixteen Myanmar and 12 Bhutan mithun had gaur haplotypes, while a B. indicus haplotype was found in three Myanmar and one Bhutan mithun. The B. taurus haplotype was detected in a single Myanmar animal. These results demonstrated that the principal maternal origin of mithun was gaur and suggested that it was directly domesticated from gaur. However, some introgression of domestic cattle existed in current mithun populations. The presence of cattle mtDNA raised the question of how many cattle nuclear genes might have been integrated into the gene pool of mithun.

The electrophoretic variation in bovine hemoglobin-beta (HBB) is one of the most investigated genetic markers. The presence of a unique HBB variant, HBB(X), in Southeast Asian cattle has been reputed as a sign of gene-flow from wild bovine species. In this study, we analyzed the DNA sequences of HBB genes in domestic and wild bovine species to verify this belief. Isoelectric focusing of HBB chain revealed that the HBB(X) in domestic cattle had dimorphism and was separated into HBB(X1) and HBB(X2). The HBB(X1) had the same DNA sequence of the common HBB variant in gayal (Bos gaurus frontalis), while some of the HBB(X2) were identical with that of Cambodian banteng (Bos javanicus birmanicus). As a result, we confirmed that the bovine HBB variants can be a good indicator of introgression between wild and domestic cattle. The HBB(X1) was always predominant to HBB(X2) in the continental populations, suggesting that the gaur had contributed to the gene pool of domestic cattle in this region much more than the banteng. On the other hand, the mitochondrial DNA analysis could not detect gene-flow from wild species. Autosomal markers that can trace the phylogeny between alleles are suitable for the assessment of bovine interspecific introgression.

Chymotrypsinogen is a principal precursor of pancreatic proteolytic enzymes. We previously isolated a cDNA clone for human prechymotrypsinogen from a human pancreatic cDNA library. In the present study, we used this cDNA sequences to isolate genomic DNA clones. Three overlapping cosmid clones spanning approximately 65-kb genomic sequences were isolated from a human cosmid library. The genomic DNA clones were characterized by restriction enzyme mapping and by hybridizing them to subfragments of the cDNA. The sequence tagged sites for human chymotrypsinogen gene were created by designing two oligonucleotides. Furthermore, the isolated genomic clones were confirmed to be localized on chromosome 16q23 by fluorescence in situ hybridization and G-banding analysis.

Calpain activity was determined by western blot analysis of steady-state concentrations of m-calpain (calpain requiring millimolar Ca2+ for activation) and also by northern blot analysis of steady-state concentrations of mRNA encoding m-calpain in three lines of quail: a random-bred control line (RR) and two lines selected for body weight, one for increased body weight (LL) and another for decreased body weight (SS). The m-calpain activities in skeletal muscle were higher in the SS line and lower in the LL line. From western blot analysis, enzyme levels of calpain were almost the same for all three lines. At the level of gene expression, the mRNA concentration encoding m-calpain was higher in the LL and lower in the SS line. These results suggest that the regulation of calpain activity in skeletal muscle is a three-step process, regulation at the transcription level, regulation at the enzyme level, and regulation of the activation of calpain.

佐賀大学農学部で維持されている日本ウズラは体重大小の2方向へ30年間にわたり選抜され,現在までに約60世代経過している。体重の大きい選抜系統(LL系)は小さい系統(SS系)に比して,10週齢体重で約3.3倍の差が存在する。体重のほかにも幾つかの形質に差が認められ,筋肉の代謝同転率,筋肉中のプロテアーゼ活性,酸素消費量,体温などでSS系の高いことが示されている。この様に長期にわたって選抜•維持されてきているので,各系統とも近交は相当進んでいると推定される。しかしながら,多型蛋白質の遺伝子頻度からの推定ではヘテロ接合体の遺伝子頻度は高い値を保ったままで,近交の程度を反映しているとはいえない。そこで,本研究ではDNA多型の分析法の一つであるDNAフィンガープリント法(DFP)を利用して両集団を分析し,その遺伝的構造について検討した。また,本法のウズラ集団での分析の有用性について明らかにした。ランダム集団(RR系)を含む3系統の各6羽のウズラから採血し,DNAサンプルを得,制限酵素HaeIIIで切断し,DNA型を比較した。DFPのプローブにはM13反復配列を用いた。1)各個体のDFP像はそれぞれ異なっており,同一選抜系統内でも個体の識別が可能であった。2)調査した18個体すべてに共通するバンドは認められなかった。3)バンドのパターンは系統毎に共通したものがあって,系統間の識別は一目瞭然であった。また,バンドの有無によりデンドログラムを描くと,デンドログラムのクラスターと各系統が良く一致した。4)2個体間の共通のバンドの占める割合(BS値)は系統内ではLL系が0.62,SS系が0.79,RR系が0.57で,系統間ではLLとSS間が0.37,LLとRR系間が0.23,SSとRR系間が0.35であった。系統間のBS値と比較すると系統内のBS値は高く,遺伝子の固定は未だ行われていないが,近交がある程度進んでいることを示していた。5)BS値より求めた近交係数はLL系が0.44,SS系が0.69,RR系が0.37で,実際の値に近いものと考えられた。

卵白蛋白質の多型を指標にして,ネパール在来鶏集団の遺伝的特性を明らかにするために,ネパールの4地域(Jomson, Solu-Khumbu, PokharaおよびBiratnagar)において合計101個の卵白サンプルを採取した.1) Biratnagar地区で採取された19個の卵白サンプルのうち,7個のサンプルはフラボプロテインを欠損する無色卵白であった.2) オボアルブミン(Ov),オボグロブリン(G2およびG3),コンアルブミン(TfEW),ポストコンアルブミン(Pc)およびリゾチーム(G1)の各座位について遺伝子構成を検討した.ネパール在来鶏集団はオボアルブミン,オボグログリン(G2およびG3),コンアルブミンにおいて多型が観察され,ボストコンアルブミンおよびリゾチーム座位においては多型が観察されなかった.3) 表現型出現頻度に基づいて,ヘテロ接合体率,集団の分化指数および集団間の遺伝距離を計算すると,それぞれ,0.113～0.2217,0.0419および0.011～0.023の範囲にあった.

本研究は63世代にわたって体重の大(LL)および小(SS)の2方向へ選抜したウズラ系統ならびにそれらの対象群として維持してきた無作為交配集団(RR)について,血液中のパラサイロイドホルモン(PTH)およびCa++の濃度を測定し,その系統間差について検討を行った.血中PTH濃度はNichals Institute, co. Ltd.のintact PTHキットにより,またCa++濃度は原子吸光法により測定した.ウズラの血中Ca++濃度では雄で274,304および323ppm/ml,雌では868,891および949ppm/mlであり,系統間(P

体重について大小2方向に選抜されたウズラの系統を用いて,骨格筋におけるm-calpainおよびactin遺伝子のm-RNAの発現量の系統間の違いについて分析を行った.供試個体は幼若期の23日齢に屠殺され,ただちに胸筋を採取し,液体窒素で凍結した.全RNAはguanidinium thiocyanateで拙出し,またpoly (A) +RNAはoligo (dT) -cellulose columnで分離した.プローブとして,ヒトβ-actinのPst I断片(2.0kb)とニワトリm-calpainのPst I断片(1.1kb)を用いた.actinとm-calpainのm-RNAは,いずれも体重大系統(LL),対照系統(RR)および体重小系統(SS)の順に高いシグナルを示した,これらの結果から,ウズラの筋肉組織におけるm-calpainおよびactinのいずれの遺伝子においてもm-RNAの発現量には系統間で違いが存在することが明らかとなった.また,いずれの系統においても,actinの発現量がm-calpainの発現量に比べて高かった.

1986年,1988年および1989年の第一,二,三次ネパール在来家畜調査において,赤色野鶏の亜種の形態学的同定と生態学的調査を行なった.タライ地方で雄6,雌5個体を収集し,そのうちの成体雄4,雌4個体について生体計測を行ない,また雄1と雌2個体を剥製標本にし,詳細な形態学的研究を行なった.生態的聞きとり調査は16地点で行ない,タライとシワリク丘陵地域の4地点で野鶏の観察を行なった.ネパールとタイの赤色野鶏の剥製標本を比較し,両者の羽色と羽装の相違に基づき,ネパールの野鶏の亜種をGallus gallus murghiと同定した.7計測部位を用いて多変量解析を行ない,ネパールの赤色野鶏の大きさと形はインドネシアのGallus gallus murghiに類似し,タイのGallus gallus gallusおよびジャワのGallus gallus bankivaより大きいことを明らかにした.生態的調査によって,タライ地域では国立公園や保護区以外の地域にも,かなり大きい赤色野鶏の集団が生息していると推定された.成体の雄3と雌2個体が,退縮した生殖腺をもつことを剖検によって確認し,繁殖季節の存在を証明した.また繁殖季節には地理的あるいは気象的な地域差があるものと考えられる.在来鶏と赤色野鶏との交雑の可能性が示され,ネパールの赤色野鶏の産卵数は,他の東南アジアの野鶏のそれとほとんど同じであることが明らかにされた.

This study was conducted in order to estimate the genetic parameters of Calcium Activated Neutral Protease (CANP) activity in the skeletal muscle of Satstuma native fowl (a Japanese native chicken stock). The CANP activity was measured at three weeks of age with alkali-denatured casein as substrate. Genetic parameters of CANP activity in the crude extract of breast muscle were estimated from sib-analysis. Variations among sire families of the CANP activity were both statistically significant (P

ネパール在来鶏の血液型を観察するために,ネパール北東部および中北部の高地地域,カトマンズ周辺地域,ポカラ周辺地域,平野部の低地地域の4地域で合計243羽の在来鶏より採血を行なった．血液型の判定には4つのシステムを用い,Aシステムは4種,Bシステムは11種,DとEシステムは各々2種の合計19種の抗血清を用いて凝集反応を行なった.血液型の遺伝子頻度の分析を行ない,調査地域間および他のアジア地域の在来鶏と比較検討した．得られた主な結果は以下の通りである.1) A座位では,F因子を持つ遺伝子の頻度が他の因子を持つものより高いことが特徴的であり,C'因子はネパール在来鶏には認められなかった.AF遺伝子の頻度には,北部の高地から南部の低地への地理的な傾斜が見られた.2) B座位では,b遺伝子の頻度が最も高く,他のアジア諸国の在来鶏と比べても高い頻度であった.一方,BD遺伝子の頻度は最も低く,ポカラ周辺の在来鶏からのみ見い出された.BG遺伝子の頻度はスリランカ,インドネシアおよびバングラデシュの在来鶏の頻度と似ていたが日本在来鶏に比べて低かった.3) DおよびE座位については,これ迄調査されたアジアの在来鶏と比較的似た傾向を示した.4) ネパール在来鶏の地域集団間の遺伝的分化の程度を表すGSTは0.125と評価された.

体重大小選抜(LLおよびSS)ならびに無作為交配(RR)のウズラ系統を用いて,それらの系統の筋肉蛋白質代謝回転速度を明らかにし,さらに筋肉蛋白質代謝回転速度と関連を有すると思われる筋肉内のカルシウム依存性中姓プロテアーゼ活性値およびそのインヒビター活性値について分析を行なった.LL, RRおよびSS系統の筋肉蛋白質の分解速度は3週齢で2.1,4.0および9.5%/day,また8週齢で1.4,2.1および3.7%/dayと評価された.筋肉蛋白質の合成速度は3週齢で4,4,7.3および12.3%/day,また8週齢で3.2,2.8および3.9%/dayと計算された.これらの結果から,体重の小さい個体は大きい個体に比べて,相対的に高い代謝速度を有することが示唆された.LL, RRおよびSS系統のm-CANP活性値(unit/mg extractable muscle protein)は3週齢で0.503,0.788および1.146,また,8週齢で0.134,0,224および0.275と評価された.一方,CANPインヒビター活性値を測定すると,LL, RRおよびSSの各系統3週齢で0.196,0.150および0,098,また8週齢で0,157,0.120および0.079と評価された.これらの結果から,m-CANPおよびCANPインヒビター活性値は筋肉蛋白質の分解速度および体重と関連を有し,これらの活性値は体重の選抜に伴い変化したことを示唆している.

A chymotrypsinogen showing the phenotype AA of chymotrypsin was purified from quail pancreas, and its chromatographic behavior, molecular weight, and electrophoretic mobility were very similar to those of another chymotrypsinogen, showing the aa phenotype of chymotrypsin. However, after activation, this chymotrypsinogen from AA showed band 5 of chymotrypsin, while the other chymotrypsinogen from aa did not. Peptide mapping demonstrated that the molecular structures of the two chymotrypsinogens are different. It was recognized that chymotrypsin variants result from activated products of different molecular structures of chymotrypsinogens.

本研究では卵用種,肉用種および日本在来種のニワトリについて,4週齢時における筋肉蛋白質代謝回転速度の分析を行なった.筋肉蛋白質代謝回転速度は糞尿中のNτ-MHの排泄量より推定した.卵用種,肉用種および在来種の筋肉蛋白質の合成速度(Ks)はそれぞれ6.2-6.8%/day,7.3-8.9%/dayおよび8.8-12.6%/day;また分解速度(Kd)はそれぞれ4.6-5.1%/day,2.8-3.0%/dayおよび6.1-7.7%/dayと評価された.また,在来鶏は一般に合成速度および分解速度共に高い値を示す傾向にあり,Kdは卵用種および肉用種の約2倍の値を示した.Ks/Kd値は卵用種,肉用種および在来種において,それぞれ1.22-1.48,2.61-2.97および1.40-1.68と評価された.筋肉蛋白質の蓄積効率と考えられる(Ks-Kd)/Ksは卵用種,肉用種および在来種でそれぞれ17.7-32.4%,61.6-66.3%および28.8-40.5%と計算され,ブロイラーは他の鶏種に比較して蓄積効率が高いことが示された.筋肉蛋白質代謝回転速度のこれらの鶏種間のちがいは,それぞれの鶏種の産肉性や飼料利用性の実態をよく反映している.