Inheritance of amylases in blood serum of cattle

Serum amylase variants are demonstrated by means of starch gel and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Phenotypes, allele frequencies, and segregation data for Am1 and Am2 in the cattle breed Deutsche Schwarzbunte are given. Demonstration of Am2 amylases was better in polyacrylamide gels and more isoenzymes were identified than in starch gels. The variants of Am1 amylases found in STAGE could not be reproduced in PAGE by means of the described methods. Both enzyme systems seem to be profoundly different in their molecular constitution and action. For the animals, these differences could be of advantage in the adaption to external influences.