Peptidase B polymorphism in cattle erythrocytes.

Starch gel electrophoresis and histochemical staining with L-leucylglycyl-glycine revealed genetic polymorphism in peptidase B in cattle erythrocytes. Genetic analysis of 164 full families indicated that the three phenotypes observed are the product of an autosomal locus with two codominant alleles, PepB1 and PepB2. A sample consisting of 2630 individuals representing 5 Zebu, 13 European, and 2 crossbred breeds was studied. This polymorphism was observed in all Zebu and crossbred breeds. The frequency of the PepB1 allele was 0.89, 0.83, 0.59, 0.82 and 0.62 in the Nellore, Gyr, Guzerat, Indubrazil, and Tabapuan breeds, respectively. The PepB2 allele appears to be fixed in the European breeds, except Marchigiana and Chianina.