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At least 991 records · Page 55Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Analyses of mitochondrial genomes strongly support a hippopotamus-whale clade.

Although the sister-group relationship between Cetacea and Artiodactyla is widely accepted, the actual artiodactyl group which is closest to Cetacea has not been conclusively identified. In the present study, we have sequenced the complete mitochondrial genome of the hippopotamus, Hippopotamus amphibius, and included it in phylogenetic analyses together with 15 other placental mammals. These analyses separated the hippopotamus from the other suiform included, the pig, and identified the hippopotamus as the artiodactyl sister group of the cetaceans, thereby making both. Artiodactyla and the suborder. Suiformes paraphyletic. The divergence between the hippopotamid and cetacean lineages was calculated using this molecular data and was estimated at ca. 54 Ma BP.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Genetic variation of the St. Lawrence beluga whale population assessed by DNA fingerprinting.

Recent surveys suggest that the endangered St. Lawrence beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) population is not recovering significantly despite 20 years of protection. Dead individuals that have been autopsied show high levels of tumours and infections. This situation could be a result of pollution, loss of genetic variation, inbreeding depression or a combination of these factors. Analyses of DNA fingerprints from St. Lawrence belugas with three minisatellite probes (Jeffreys 33.6, 33.15 and M13) indicate a reduced level of genetic variation compared to Beaufort Sea animals. The average band-sharing between individuals of the St. Lawrence beluga population for the three probes (0.534, 0.573 and 0.478, respectively) was significantly higher than that of the Beaufort Sea beluga population (0.343, 0.424, 0.314, respectively). Higher levels of mean allele frequency in the St. Lawrence belugas (0.33 vs. 0.21) suggest that this population is composed of individuals which are related. Inbreeding depression could therefore be a factor in the lack of recovery of the St. Lawrence beluga population.

Alleles↗
PubMed1996

Linear epitopes of sperm whale myoglobin identified by polyclonal antibody screening of random peptide library.

Distinct enhancement of antibody-specific clones was apparent during the screening against random peptide libraries with antigen-specific polyclonal antibodies. Several sequence motifs obtained from these screenings were homologous with the primary sequence of myoglobin. Two of these motifs have been confirmed as antigenic determinants by competitive inhibition tests using eight-branched synthetic peptides. One of the peptides has a sequence that corresponds to amino acid residues 42-50, KFDRFKHLK, of the myoglobin sequence. This is a new epitope of myoglobin that is reported for the first time. The epitope is located precisely in the "turn' or "loop' region between helices C and D of the crystal structure of myoglobin. The second antibody binding site has a sequence of DIAAKYKELGYQG, and this is located between residues 141-153, which is the C-terminus of myoglobin. This epitope encompassed two linear epitopes of myoglobin, amino acid residues 145-151 and 147-153, that have been reported earlier based on immunochemical characterisation of cleavage fragments of the protein. These results clearly indicate that epitope mapping using polyclonal antibodies against random peptide libraries can identify new epitopes precisely, as well as confirm epitopes of myoglobin obtained earlier using established methodologies.

Animals↗