An estimation of the degree of the genetic divergence of sibling species Microtus arvalis and Microtus subarvalis (Rodentia) based on electrophoretic analysis

Abstract

The electrophoretic mobilities of 52 enzymes and proteins were used as measures of the genetic similarity between the sibling species Microtus arvalis and M. subarvalis. The two vole species differed in the electrophoretic mobilities of seven (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, adenylate kinase, diaphorase, lactate dehydrogenase-A, alpha-galactosidase, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, and hemoglobin) of these markers. This allowed us to accept the seven markers assayed as species-specific markers. Based on the frequency distribution of the genes at the polymorphic loci of M. arvalis and M. subarvalis, the degree of their genetic similarity was estimated as 0.312 and the genetic distance as 1.164 by Nei's formula. The estimates for genetic similarity were close to those obtained for species recognized as distinct.

Non-random inactivation of theX-chromosome in interspecific hybrid voles

“…Samples of tissues and organs were obtained from sacrified animals. Tissue homogenates were sonicated three times for 10 s at 4 °C, centrifuged and electrophoresed in 14% starch gels (Zakijan et al 1984). Visualization of G6PD and GALA activities in the gels was done according to Harris & Hopkinson (1976).…”

Differentiating sibling species in the Quaternary fossil record: a comparison of morphological and molecular methods to identifyMicrotus arvalisandM. rossiaemeridionalis(Arvicolinae, Rodenia)

“…The two species occupy similar ecological niches and occur in sympatry over considerable parts of their ranges. They are reproductively isolated and may be unambiguously identified based on standard karyotypes (2n = 46 in M. arvalis versus 2n = 54 in M. rossiaemeridionalis [Malygin 1983;Meyer et al 1996]), haemoglobin electrophoresis (Dobrokhotov & Malygin 1982;Zakijan et al 1984) and molecular genetic markers (Nekrutenko et al 1999;Jaarola et al 2004). Based upon standard morphological criteria, M. arvalis and M. rossiaemeridionalis have been regarded as extremely similar in external, skeletal and dental traits (Malygin 1983;Sokolov & Bashenina 1994;Meyer et al 1996;Markova et al 2010a), although they can be distinguished by spermatozoan head shape (Aksenova 1973) and bacular morphology (Fedotova 1976(Fedotova , 1978Larina & Fedotova 1980).…”

Heterochromatin as a factor affecting X-inactivation in interspecific female vole hybrids (Microtidae, Rodentia)

“…Electrophoresis was carried out in 13% starch gels. Electrophoretic conditions and preparation of the samples for assaying G6PD and GALA, as well as the staining techniques for their visualization, were all as described elsewhere (Zakijan et al 1984). Determination of the specific activity of G6PD in the erythrocytes of all the studied vole species was based on a previously described method (Serov & Zakijan, 1977).…”