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Esterase D polymorphism and partial characterization of red blood cell esterases in cattle and buffalo populations

Silvia Nassif Del Lama^I; Marco Antônio Del Lama^I; Moacyr Antônio Mestriner^II; Norma Mortari^I

^IDepartamento de Genética e Evolução, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Caixa Postal 676, 13565-905 São Carlos, SP, Brasil. Send correspondence to S.N.D.L.
^IIDepartamento de Genética, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, USP, 14049-900 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil

ABSTRACT

Cattle and buffalo red blood cell esterases, Es-B and Es-D, were characterized on the basis of their electrophoretic mobility, substrate specificity, inhibitor sensitivity and presence of sulphydryl groups. Genetic variation was investigated in 19 cattle breeds (Bos indicus and Bos taurus) and in three River water buffalo populations raised in Brazil. The methodology employed was starch gel electrophoresis; the activity was revealed with fluorogenic or a-naphthyl esters as substrates. Es-B was monomorphic in cattle and buffalo erythrocytes. Genetic polymorphism at Es-D locus supported by family data was detected in cattle populations; five phenotypes resulting from expression of three codominant alleles were observed. The Es-D F allele frequency was high in most of the cattle breeds (0.79-1.00). The Es-D M allele occurred only in zebuine breeds and in synthetic breeds resulting from crossbreeding between Bos taurus and Bos indicus (0.02-0.21). Therefore it may be used as a genetic marker in the identification of Bos indicus genes. The Es-D S allele was found to be restricted to the Devon breed (0.10), an example of private polymorphism. Es-D F and S alleles occurred in the River buffalo populations; F allele was predominant (0.53-0.60). The data confirm that cattle and buffalo Es-B and Es-D are coded by two loci and share some catalytic properties.

Keywords: esterase D; polymorphism; red blood cell; cattle; buffalo.

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