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P W Wenink

Publications and source records attributed to P W Wenink.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Applicability of bovine microsatellite markers for population genetic studies on African buffalo (Syncerus caffer).

The applicability of bovine autosomal microsatellite markers for population genetic studies on African buffalo was investigated. A total of 168 microsatellite markers were tested for PCR amplification on a test panel of seven African buffalo. Amplification was observed for 139 markers (83%), and 101 markers were studied further with 91 (90%) being polymorphic. The mean number of alleles per marker was 5.0 (SE = 0.2) and the mean heterozygosity per marker was 0.61 (SE = 0.03). Considering the overall high level of polymorphism, it was concluded that most bovine microsatellite markers are applicable in African buffalo.

Alleles↗
PubMed1998

African buffalo maintain high genetic diversity in the major histocompatibility complex in spite of historically known population bottlenecks.

Historical population collapses caused by rinderpest epidemics are hypothesized to have resulted in notable genetic losses in populations of the African buffalo. Polymorphism in the major histocompatibity complex (MHC) DRB3 gene was probed by means of restriction analysis of the sequence encoding the peptide-binding region. Nucleotide substitution patterns agreed with a positive selection acting on this fitness-relevant locus. Buffalo populations from four National Parks, situated in eastern and southern Africa, each revealed a surprisingly high allelic diversity. Current high levels of heterozygosity may be reconciled with historical bottlenecks by assuming that local extinctions were followed by fast recolonization, in accordance with the high dispersive capabilities of buffalo. The specific amplification of DRB3 alleles also enabled the assignment of individual genotypes. For each population sample a deficiency in the expected number of heterozygous animals was found. As overdominant selection on the MHC is predicted to yield an excess of heterozygous individuals, this may not be a locus-specific effect. Several other explanations are discussed, of which increased homozygosity caused by nonrandom mating of buffalo in populations seems the most probable.

Africa↗
PubMed1994

Mitochondrial control-region sequences in two shorebird species, the turnstone and the dunlin, and their utility in population genetic studies.

We determined the mitochondrial control-region sequences of five turnstones (Arenaria interpres) and three dunlins (Calidris alpina). Comparisons revealed that the central part (part II) is conserved relative to much more variable parts at the beginning (part I) and the end (part III). This pattern of sequence conservation is also found in the control regions of other vertebrates. The average sequence divergence between turnstone and dunlin was 21.8% for part I, 7.5% for part II, and 29.5% for part III. Within-species sequence divergence over the entire control region was much lower, at 0.9% for turnstones and 2.0% for dunlins. In both shorebird species, part III contains a repetitive sequence composed only of A and C nucleotides, which has not been found in the control regions of other birds. A survey of the part I sequences of 25 turnstones and 25 dunlins sampled around the world revealed that these species have very different population genetic structures. Dunlins are not only much more differentiated in their sequences but also have a strongly subdivided population genetic structure. Pleistocene vicariant events combined with strong natal philopatry and high mutation rates of the sequences are likely responsible for this population genetic subdivision. Conversely, part I sequences of turnstones are weakly differentiated and are geographically unstructured. We argue that this is not the result of global gene flow but that, instead turnstones have recently expanded from a refugial population that was bottlenecked.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Hypervariable-control-region sequences reveal global population structuring in a long-distance migrant shorebird, the Dunlin (Calidris alpina).

Hypervariable segments of the control region of mtDNA as well as part of the cytochrome b gene of Dunlins were amplified with PCR and sequenced directly. The 910 base pairs (bp) obtained for each of 73 individuals complete another of the few sequencing studies that examine the global range of a vertebrate species. A total of 35 types of mtDNA were detected, 33 of which were defined by the hypervariable-control-region segments. Thirty of the latter were specific to populations of different geographic origin in the circumpolar breeding range of the species. The remaining three types indicate dispersal between populations in southern Norway and Siberia, but female-mediated flow of mtDNA apparently is too low to overcome the effects of high mutation rates of the control-region sequences, as well as population subdivision associated with historical range disjunctions. A genealogical tree relating the types grouped them into five populations: Alaska, West Coast of North America, Gulf of Mexico, western Europe, and the Taymyr Peninsula. The Dunlin is thus highly structured geographically, with measures of mutational divergence approaching 1.0 for fixation of alternative types in different populations. High diversity of types within populations as well as moderate long-term effective population sizes argue against severe population bottlenecks in promoting this differentiation. Instead, population fragmentation in Pleistocene refuges is the most plausible mechanism of mtDNA differentiation but at a much earlier time scale than suggested previously with morphometric data.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Permanent attachment of replication origins to the nuclear matrix in BHK-cells.

The position of replication origins and replication forks relative to the nuclear matrix was analysed by autoradiography. Analysis of 2M NaCl-extracted extracted BHK-nuclei, prepared on coverslips, showed that after brief pulses grains were exclusively found over the central core of the residual nuclei, which corresponds to positions in the nuclear matrix. In asynchronous cells these grains were found to migrate into the DNA-halo surrounding the matrix during a subsequent chase. When the pulse had been administered to synchronous cells at the onset of S-phase, it was observed, however, that in the majority of the structures no such migration had occurred. From this, and from the fact that label incorporated later in S-phase could be chased into the halo, we conclude that, contrary to DNA in replication forks, DNA containing replication origins is permanently attached to the nuclear matrix.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Structural integrity of the nuclear matrix: differential effects of thiol agents and metal chelators.

Nuclear matrices, associated with over 80% of the chromosomal DNA, could be isolated from BHK nuclei by extraction with 2M-NaCl. The matrices were found to impose at least two levels of structural order upon nuclear DNA. From sedimentation studies it was inferred that metal depletion of the salt-extracted nuclei generated matrix structures, which sedimented at significantly lower rates than control matrices. Fluorescence microscopy revealed that the reduced sedimentation rate is a consequence of the increase in the radius of the DNA halo, i.e. the DNA loops emanating from the residual nucleus. Addition of Cu ions to nuclei prior to salt extraction was found to induce contraction of this DNA halo. These results indicate that Cu ions may play an important role in stabilizing one level of DNA folding. When metal depletion had been brought about by thiol agents, a second effect was observed to occur. Within 15 min, salt-extracted nuclei disintegrated, generating irregularly shaped, slowly sedimenting structures. Disintegration only occurred when the full complement of DNA was still attached to the nuclear matrices. Analysis by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed that treatment with thiols did not detectably alter the polypeptide composition of DNA-depleted residual nuclei. Results of these experiments suggest that both metal-protein interactions and disulphide bonds are important in maintaining higher-order structure in the nucleus. A model to account for these observations is discussed.

Animals↗