Comparison of hemoglobins from the genus Xenopus (Amphibia salienta)

A survey of the electrophoretic mobility of hemoglobins of 14 species and subspecies of the genus Xenopus was undertaken. It was found that the variation between the different taxons considered was quite important in the number and the degree of the hemoglobin bands on polyacrylamide slab gels. The profiles of the hemoglobin electrophoretic pattern in tube gels gave corresponding results, confirming the variation between the different Xenopus species. The degree of resolution obtained on polyacrylamide slab gels was insufficient to allow one to distinguish between the subspecies of Xenopus laevis. Specific staining of the gels showed that the protein bands were in fact hemoglobins. From the results obtained it appears that there are relative differences in the number and mobility of hemoglobin bands between the different species, these differences being important enough to stimulate interest in further investigation in this field, but, as far as this preliminary investigation indicates, not clear-cut enough to use as a method of identification for isolated unknown species.