Butterfly Esterase Isozymes In Systematics (lepidoptera, Butterfly Suborder)

The studies on the systematics of the EST isoenzyme of butterflies which totally include seven families, twenty-three genera and thirty-one species were analysized by using the technique of vertical slab polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.The EST isoenzyme spectrums of the pieris rapae (Linnaeus) at different developmental stages were studied and the genetic structures of the enzyme spectrums of several butterflies which have more specimen and simpler enzyme types were also analysized in detail. The results are as follows:1. The EST isozyme of butterflies possess polymorphosis. The number of the EST isoenzyme loci of Libythea celtis Laicharting. pieris rapae (Linnaeus) and papilio machaon Linnaeus range from two to three respectively; furthermore, each site has one to four alleles.2. There exist certain differences among the same species, different sexes and even different individuals in respect to the EST isoenzyme of the butterflies. The variances between sexes are more significant than those of the individuals and they are less significant than the diffrences between interspecific. The extent of the variances existing among different families, genera and species is coincide with their levels of classification.3. There are some differences among the EST isozyrne spectrums of pieris rapae (Linnaeus) at different developmental periods. The number of enzyme bands fundamentally have the tendency to decrease with the development order from egg to each larva. Therefore, the change of theStudies on the Systematics of the Butterflies'EST Isoenzyme(Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera)Guo Xiao-xia(Institute of zoology, Shaanxi Normal University, xi 'an ,710062)The studies on the systematics of the EST isoenzyme of butterflies which totally include seven families, twenty-three genera and thirty-one species were analysized by using the technique of vertical slab polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.The EST isoenzyme spectrums of the pieris rapae (Linnaeus) at different developmental stages were studied and the genetic structures of the enzyme spectrums of several butterflies which have more specimen and simpler enzyme types were also analysized in detail. The results are as follows:1. The EST isozyme of butterflies possess polymorphosis. The number of the EST isoenzyme loci of Libythea celtis Laicharting.~ pieris rapae (Linnaeus) and papilio machaon Linnaeus range from two to three respectively; furthermore, each site has one to four alleles.2. There exist certain differences among the same species, different sexes and even different individuals in respect to the EST isoenzyme of the butterflies. The variances between sexes are more significant than those of the individuals and they are less significant than the diffrences between interspecific. The extent of the variances existing among different families, genera and species is coincide with their levels of classification.3. There are some differences among the EST isozyrne spectrums of pieris rapae (Linnaeus) at different developmental periods. The number of enzyme bands fundamentally have the tendency to decrease with the development order from egg to each larva. Therefore, the change of the — —3 一enzyme bands can be regarded as one of the biochemical standards in determining the individual developmental course of pieris rapae (Linnaeus).As an auxiliary means, isoenzyme electrophoresis can take an active part in the classification and systématics study of butterflies. Thus, thestudy results of this article can provide some basic materials for the further research of this field.