Transferrin Gene Distributions in Macaca irus from Two Different Local Populations

Abstract

A total of 174 serum samples of Macaca irus, originally imported from Cambodia and the Philippines, were determined their transferrin phenotypes by starch gel electrophoresis.Eighteen transferrin phenotypes with eight different components were observed in the samples of Cambodian origin, while one homozygous type was predominant and only two out of sixty showed each different heterozygous pattern in the samples of Philippine origin.This findings were thought to be an additional evidence supporting the previously observed pattern of homozygosity in island populations and heterozygosity in mainland populations with respect to macaque transferrin alleles.Moreover, the present Cambodian irus showed a somewhat different distribution for transferrin alleles from those so far examined in the monkeys of Thailand and Malaysia.At present, the observations are only explained by that there certainly exists a strong effect of environmental and geographical factors upon the protein polymorphisms in Macaca irus.