0000000000621341

AUTHOR

Goffredo Cognetti

Microevolution in the sicilian shrew crocidura sicula (mammalia, soricidae) tested by rapd-pcr fingerprinting

Genetic variation in samples of the endemic Crocidura sicula living in Sicily and in two surrounding small islands, Marettimo and Ustica, was analysed by Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA fingerprinting (RAPD) and compared to morphometrics and external phenotypes. Molecular variation in the random sample of 99 DNA fragments of the Ustica shrews, showing.a melanic fur and a size-shape variation in skull morphometrics, is of comparable size to that of the of northwestern and northeastern samples Sicily (Tufanio and Madonie). In the Marettimo shrews, bicoloured (grey and white) animals like those coming from Sicily and presenting a significant reduction in body-size and skull morphometrics, mol…

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Fingerprinting ofCaprinae ancient genomic DNA: A preliminary note for studying the history of domestication in sicily

Oligonucleotide primers representing promoter and protein motifs in rats and mice were assayed for PCR amplification of ancient DNA from two sheep and one goat. We show preliminary evidence that this type of primers can be used for genomic fingerprinting of ancient DNA at interspecific level and can help in solving some paleoecological promlems.

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Histones and non-histone proteins during sea urchin development

Abstract Chromatin from blastulae and plutei of Paracentrotus lividus was fractionated through a hydroxyapatite column. The ratio of histones versus non-histone proteins decreases from blastula to pluteus stage.

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Two proteases from nuclei of rat testis cells. II. Inhibitors

Abstract Proteases Rc and Kc of the nuclei of rat testis cells exhibit considerable differences in susceptibility to various protease inhibitors. Protease Rc is inhibited by D‐phenylalanyl‐L‐propyl‐L‐arginine chlormethylketone and p‐nitrophenyl‐p1‐guanidino ben‐zoate. Protease Kc is inhibited by Nα‐p‐tosyl‐L‐lysine chlormethylketone, N‐p‐tosyl‐phenylalanine chlormethylketone, N‐carbobenzoxy‐L‐phenylalanine chloromethylketone and p‐nitrophenyl‐p'‐guanidino‐benzoate. Neither protease is inhibited by 10 mM phenylmethanesulphonyl‐fluoride or p‐chloromercuri‐benzoate. p‐nitrophenyl‐p1‐guanidino‐benzoate is a substrate for protease Rc with release of p‐nitrophenol, however the protease activity i…

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Two proteases from nuclei of rat testis cells. I. Isolation

Abstract Two proteases, assayed with fluorogenic peptides and tentatively designated Rc and Kc, have been isolated from nuclei of rat testis cells by differential extraction with acetic acid, removal of some proteins at pH 4.5, and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by electroblotting onto nitrocellulose paper. Protease R hydrolyzes t‐Butyl‐oxycarbonyl‐Val‐Pro‐Arg‐7‐amino‐4‐methyl‐coumarin and other peptides in which arginine is joined to 7‐amino‐4‐methyl‐coumarin by amide linkage. Protease Kc has a preference for peptides terminating in lysine‐7‐amino‐4‐methylcoumarin amide. Neither of these proteases is active against Glu‐Phe‐7‐amino‐4‐methyl‐coumarin amide or Carbobenzoxy‐Arg‐7‐…

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A molecular approach to the taxonomy and biogeography of African parrots

Random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis of blood samples from eight African parrot species was performed to study the genetic relationship within the genus Poicephalus and among Poi-cephalus and the two other main African parrot genuses, Agapornis and Psittacus. To this end, DNA from six Poicephalus species, one species, of the Agapornis group and the single Psittacus species was analysed. The amplification pattern was then converted into a binary matrix and scored by the unweighted pair-group method algorithm. The resulting dendrogram showed a neat separation of all the Poicephalus on one side, from Psittacus-Agapornis on the other side. Among the six analysed species of Poicephalus, two…

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