Genetic Variation of Phosphatase in Cattle Serum

Abstract

A COMBINATION of starch-gel electrophoresis and histochemical staining technique was used to study a variation in the phosphatase of cattle serum. The starch-gel electrophoresis was performed as described by Gahne¹. The starch gel was cut in three slices; the bottom slice was used for protein staining and the middle slice was stained for phosphatase in the following solution: 100 ml. acetate buffer, 0.1 M, pH. 5.0, 100 mg sodium α-naphthyl phosphate. 100 mg o-aminoazotoluene diazonium salt, 10 drops of 10 per cent solution of magnesium chloride, 10 drops of 10 per cent solution of manganese chloride, 0.5 g polyvinylpyrolidone, 2 g sodium chloride. The solution is practically the same as that used by Lawrence et al.². The gels were incubated 16 h at room temperature. Background staining was removed by washing the gels with methanol/water/acetic acid (50 : 50 : 10). The phosphatase activity was recognized by darkly stained zones.