Esterase D and carbonic anhydrase 2 in a natural population ofCebus apella from Brazil

Abstract

The electrophoretic patterns of esterase D (ESD; E.C.3.1.1.1) and carbonic anhydrase 2 (CA 2, E.C.4.2.1.1) were studied in 147 specimens of Cebus apella. Three phenotypes were detected at the esterase D system, ESD 1 allele showing a frequency of 44%, markedly different from those observed in Old World monkeys. CA2 also proved to be polymorphic, with three alleles being detected at the following frequencies: CA2 ~, 98 %; CA22 and CA23, both 1%. The CA2 activity was absent in newborn animals and in fetuses.