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Molecular weight relationships of the esterases in Cepaea nemoralis and Cepaea hortensis (Mollusca: Helicidae) and their genetic implications

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Abstract

The multiple zones of esterase activity revealed after acrylamide disc electrophoresis of hepatopancreatic extracts from the snails Cepaea nemoralis and Cepaea hortensis have been characterized according to their molecular weights by comparing their relative mobilities with those of standard proteins in acrylamide gels of varying concentrations. It was observed that zones known to be allelic from previous work had identical molecular weights, differing only in charge. Homologies between esterases in the two species were suggested in several cases when molecular weights were taken in conjunction with biochemical data. The products of what is thought to be an esterase supergene have, with one exception, been shown to have the same molecular weights, suggesting evolution by serial gene duplications. The usefulness of molecular weight knowledge when trying to detect allelic zones intraspecifically and homologous zones interspecifically is discussed.

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Author notes

  1. G. S. Oxford

    Present address: Department of Biology, University of York, York, United Kingdom

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Genetics, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom

    G. S. Oxford

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  1. G. S. Oxford
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The work was supported by a Science Research Council Postgraduate award.

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Oxford, G.S. Molecular weight relationships of the esterases in Cepaea nemoralis and Cepaea hortensis (Mollusca: Helicidae) and their genetic implications. Biochem Genet 8, 365–382 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00487342

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00487342

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