CHARACTERIZATION OF THE ERYTHROCYTE SUPEROXIDE-DISMUTASE ALLOZYMES INTHE DEER CERVUS-ELAPHUS

The cDNA sequences for Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase from two Gervus elap hus subspecies, North American wapiti and European red deer, were dete rmined. The derived amino acid sequences showed two differences: resid ue 8 was Leu in wapiti and Met in red deer and residue 25 was His in w apiti and Asn in red deer. The extra positive charge at position 25 in the wapiti isoform accounted for its greater mobility towards the cat hode during non-denaturing electrophoresis, a procedure widely used in the genetic analysis of deer. There was no difference in specific act ivity between the two Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase isoforms, but the wap iti isoform was slightly more susceptible to heat denaturation.