Erythrocyte membrane sialoglycoproteins. I. qualitative and quantitative differences in zebu and taurine cattle and buffalo

Abstract

Comparative assays on the concentration and types of sialoglycoproteins (glycophorins; GP) on the erythrocyte membrane of three different cattle breeds and buffalo were carried out. Twenty-eight cattle consisting of ten N’Dama (Bos taurus), fourteen White Fulani, (West African Zebu; WAZ), four Boran (East African Zebu; EAZ) and two buffaloes were used. The erythrocytes of WAZ and EAZ cattle contained significantly lower (P<0.05) concentrations of sialoglycoproteins (9.85±0.61 and 9.46±1.35 mg/109 erythrocytes, respectively) than those of N’Dama cattle (Ibadan-based, 12.54±0.37; Nairobi-based, 12.28±0.85 mg/10° erythrocytes) and buffalo (10.43±1.25 mg/109 erythrocytes). Electrophoretic separation of the erythrocyte GPs revealed that both N’Dama cattle, its 75% crosses and buffalo expressed three bands corresponding to human erythrocyte GPA, GPC and GPB, with 39, 30 and 25 kDa apparent molecular masses, respectively. On the other hand, WAZ cattle expressed GPA and GPC while EAZ cattle erythrocytes expressed only the GPA band. These findings indicate that the N'Dama cattle and buffalo, both of which are known to be trypanotolerant, have qualitatively and quantitatively higher levels and types of erythrocytemembrane glycophorins than the trypanosusceptible WAZ and EAZ cattle. It is concluded that these erythrocyte membrane attributes of N’Dama and buffalo may be heritable characteristics and possible markers for trypanotolerance. © GSP, India.