Prolein polymorphism in a randombred chicken population

Abstract

Polymorphism in plasma amylase, plasma alkaline phosphatase, non-specific esterase and red cell esterase-D of the Athens-Canadian randombred (ACRB) population of chickens was determined by polyacrylamide and starch gel electrophoresis. Amylase alleles Amy-1A and Amy-1B were segregating in the ACRB population with frequencies of 0.45 and 0.55, respectively. For the plasma alkaline phosphatase the F and S bands, the B band and a new isozyme migrating at a faster rate than the previously reported F band were detected. A genetic nomenclature for plasma alkaline phosphatase is suggested which considers the difference between the F and S bands as the presence or absence of sialic acid attached to a primary protein. Plasma esterase activity was observed in all 4 of the regions previously reported., but there was no polymorphism found in any of the loci. All birds in this population showed the same red-cell esterase-D phenotype which consisted of a main band with sub-bands on each side.