An Improved Method for the Identification of Gc1 Subtypes (Group‐Specific Component) by Isoelectric Focusing

Abstract

The occurrence of common subtypes of the Gc¹ gene in a German population (n = 261) was investigated by isoelectric focusing on thin layers of polyacrylamide in the pH range 4–6. Six common phenotypes designated Gc IS, IF, 1F-1S, 2-1S, 2-1F, and 2 are considered as gene products of three common alleles with the following frequencies: Gc^1S = 0.603, Gc^1F = 0.125, and Cc² = 0.272. The sum of the allele frequencies of Gc^1S and Gc^1F corresponds with that of the ‘old’ Gc¹ allele. Family investigations are in agreement with an autosomal codominant way of inheritance. The method employed provides an identification of the subtypes within 4 h without using anti-Gc-serum for immunoprecipitation.