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Protein Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis as a Common Vole Sibling Species Identification Method (Microtus arvalis Pallas, 1779 and M.rossiaemeridionalis Ognev, 1924 (Rodentia, Cricetidae))

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Abstract

A new protocol for the identification of two sibling species of voles Microtus arvalis and M. rossiaemeridionalis was proposed by electrophoresis of blood proteins in polyacrylamide gel (PAGE). Animals captured in ten districts of Moscow, Kaluga, and Samara oblasts and Moscow natural territories (1030 individuals), as well as those taken from vivarium collections (five hybrids of the two species), were studied. A comparison of electrophoresis in PAGE, agarose gel, and cellulose acetate plates was carried out. The use of different organs and tissues for species identification was assessed. The relative electrophoretic mobility and the mass of a species-specific blood protein of the southern vole were determined.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors are grateful to E.V. Cherepanova (Institute of the Problems of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences) for help in conducting a cytogenetic analysis.

Funding

This study was supported by the Russian Science Foundation (project no. 16-14-10269).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Severtsov Institute оf Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy оf Sciences, 119071, Moscow, Russia

    I. A. Zhigarev, D. I. Zhigarev & V. V. Alpatov

  2. Moscow State Pedagogical University, Institute of Biology and Chemistry, 129164, Moscow, Russia

    I. A. Zhigarev, V. V. Alpatov & V. V. Lapkovsky

  3. Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, 117997, Moscow, Russia

    D. I. Zhigarev

  4. Faculty of Biology, Moscow State University, 119234, Moscow, Russia

    V. M. Malygin

  5. Nayanova Samara State Regional Academy, 443001, Samara, Russia

    S. V. Simak

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  1. I. A. Zhigarev
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  4. V. V. Lapkovsky
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Correspondence to I. A. Zhigarev.

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Conflict of interests. The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Statement on the welfare of animals. All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed.

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Translated by N. Smolina

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Zhigarev, I.A., Zhigarev, D.I., Alpatov, V.V. et al. Protein Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis as a Common Vole Sibling Species Identification Method (Microtus arvalis Pallas, 1779 and M.rossiaemeridionalis Ognev, 1924 (Rodentia, Cricetidae)). Biol Bull Russ Acad Sci 46, 353–360 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1062359019030154

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