Distribution of Transferrin (Tf) Subtypes in Asian, Pacific and Australian Aboriginal Populations: Evidence for the Existence of a New Subtype Tfc6

Abstract

Transferrin subtypes have been determined by isoelectric focussing of sera from 3,787 individuals in selected populations in the Asian, Pacific and Australian area. Tf^C1and Tf^C2were present in all populations studied. Tf^C3 was found to be polymorphic in a few populations only. The highest frequency of Tf^C2was found in the Soliga (34%), an Indian tribal population, and the lowest Tf^C2 safrequency was in Australian Aborigines (3%). In Pacific island populations Tf^C2was found to be variable between 4 and 22%. A new subtype allele, Tf^C6, was observed at polymorphic frequency in Australian Aborigines.