Genetic polymorphism of immunoglobulin G in the mink. VI. A regulatory gene controlling the expression of the gamma-chain constant region allotype of mink immunoglobulin.

We describe here the inheritance of H6, one of the six known allotypes of the gamma-chain constant region of mink immunoglobulin (IgG). H6 is not present in minor concentrations in the serum, and its phenotypic expression is stable. However, in offspring of some of (H6-)X(H6-) crosses. H6 appeared unexpectedly and, by contrast, it disappeared in some H6+/H6+ homozygote offspring. Based on pedigree analysis, a transregulation of H6 expression in the serum by an autosomal recessive gene not linked to the structural allotype gene is postulated.