[Intestinal arginase in the phylogenetic development of animals]. / Arginaza jelitowa w rozwoju filogenetycznym zwierzat.

The activity of intestinal arginase was studied in 31 species belonging to the types Annelides, Arthropoda and Chordata. Large variations of the enzyme activity were tested. The differences were of 2 orders of magnitude--100 times. Four groups were selected: animals with very low arginase activity up to 0.20 microM of ornithine/mg of protein/15 min; this group comprises both phylogenetically lower and higher animals (cockroach, locust, frog, duck, domestic hen, broiler chicken, horse, hyppopotamus, ox, sheep, antelope); animals with rather low activity up to 0.22 to 0.60 microM of ornithine/mg of protein/15 min (crayfish, herring, salmon, bream, cod, pike-perch, mink, fox, dog. man); animals with moderate activity up to 0.63 to 1.15 microM of ornithine/mg of protein/15 min (pigeon, coypu, guinea-pig, hog); animals with high activity up 1.15 to 9.26 microM of ornithine/mg of protein/15 min (rabbit, rat, hamster, mouse). According to the profile the activity of the enzyme along the long axis of the intestine two groups of animals could be separated: one in which arginase activity is the same over the whole length of the intestine, in animals with very low and rather low arginase activity, and the second in which there is a distinct topographical differentiation of activity (the highest in the jejunum decreasing gradually with differing gradients) in animals with moderate and high arginase activity. Intestinal arginase activity in quails in ontogenic development from the birth up to 233 days, show 2 peaks--one at 9 and the second at 23 days.

Incorporation of uridine and leucine by the germinal discs of quail eggs kept cool or warmed periodically during storage.

Nucleic acid and protein biosyntheses are characteristic of the fertilised germinal disc and continue during storage at 20 degrees C though at a reduced rate. There is no comparable activity in unfertilised eggs. 2. Warming the fertilised eggs for 30 min/d during storage increased the rate of incorporation of uridine and leucine into proteins and nucleic acids by a factor of three.

The gene of golden plumage colour linked with lower fertility in Mangurian Golden quail.

Relation between golden plumage colour and lowered fertility has been found in quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Golden colour of plumage is due to the presence of a single gene G, while its recessive alleles gg determine partridge-like colour. Homozygotic birds of GG pattern die during incubation.