Mitochondrial DNA polymorphism in Japanese monkeys, Macaca fuscata.

Abstract

We analyzed mitochondrial DNA purified from the livers of 10 Japanese monkeys, Macaca fuscata, derived from four local populations using the cleavage patterns for 18 restriction enzymes. Of the 18 enzymes used, polymorphism of the cleavage patterns was observed in 12 enzyme digestions. By combining the cleavage patterns for each enzyme, the 10 samples were classified into four restriction types. Each of the four types was found exclusively in the respective population from which the samples were obtained. Each type had 43 to 49 sites for the 18 enzymes. The average number of nucleotide substitution per site was estimated to be 0.0132. This value is several times larger than that observed in human population but at approximately the same level compared with those observed in great apes and rodents. The phylogenetic tree constructed for the four types indicate that mtDNAs of the 10 Japanese monkeys examined were divided into two clusters and these two clusters diverged approximately one million years ago. This work has proved that the restriction enzyme analysis is useful for elucidating genetic variations in Japanese monkeys.