Alpha-1-Protease Inhibitor Phenotypes in Australia

Abstract

.alpha.-1-Protease inhibitor (.alpha.-1-antitrypsin) phenotypes of 1007 white Australian blood donors, 597 Aboriginals and 63 Vietnamese immigrants were examined by isoelectric focussing in a pH range of 3.5-5.0. The frequency of the PIM2 allele was high in the Aboriginal populations and low in the blood donors and the Vietnamese. The S allele was higher in 1 Aboriginal group than in the blood donors but very low or absent in the rest. The Z allele was also absent in the northern Aboriginals. Other alleles found in low frequency were PII in the blood donors and PIF in the Aborigines, with PIX in Aborigines, Vietnamese and blood donors.