Constancy of enzyme electrofocusing patterns in a stand of the lichen Umbilicaria mammulata

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Abstract
Thalli of the lichen Umbilicaria mammulata (Ach.) Tuck, were collected from one site, 24 at each of five different sampling times, over a period of 1 year. Protein extracts from each individual thallus were subjected to isoelectric focusing, followed by specific staining for eight enzyme systems (mannitol dehydrogenase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, glutamate dehydrogenase, superoxide dismutase, esterase, and alkaline phosphatase). A total of 55 bands were resolved, 25 of which were constant in all thalli through all sampling dates. Principal components analysis of the electromorph data showed the existence of groups corresponding to sets of thalli collected at the same times; esterase and alkaline phosphatase variation were primarily responsible for these groupings. Banding patterns of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase and superoxide dismutase were constant regardless of date of collection. Most bands of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and glutamate dehydrogenase were consistent through all sampling times, but each system exhibited one band that differed in frequency from one collection date to another. Electromorphs of mannitol dehydrogenase and isocitrate dehydrogenase exhibited only minor variability. Dehydrogenase enzymes, since they tended to vary least from one sampling time to the next, can thus be used more readily for taxonomic purposes. If esterases and alkaline phosphatases are to be applied as taxonomic criteria, samples for comparison should be collected simultaneously.

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