An Electrophoretic Analysis of the Lens and Muscle Proteins of Selected Anurans

Muscle esterases (a napthylacetate), lens total proteins and muscle total proteins of six species of anurans (Rana septentrionalis, R. sylvatica, R. clamitans, R. catesbeiana, R. pipiens and Bufo marinus) were examined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The objective was to determine whether interand intraspecific differences existed and to determine the biochemical relationships of these amphibians. Migration distances were compared and per cent affinities were determined. Intraspecific variation was slight and not population-dependent. R. pipiens showed variation in both lens and muscle proteins, R. clamitans in muscle esterases and lens proteins, and R. sylvatica in only the muscle esterases. Lens proteins, the most evolutionarily conservative, showed the highest affinities. On the basis of their affinities, it was concluded that R. catesbeiana is closely related to both R. clamitans and R. septentrionalis, and R. pipiens is distantly related to other Rana tested.