Genetic polymorphism of IgG in mink. II. A genetic analysis of allotypes.

Population distribution and inheritance pattern were analyzed in mink IgG allotypes: L1 (L chains), H2, H3, H4, H6, H7, and H8 (the constant region of the H chains, i.e. C gamma-allotypes) and conformational allotype 5 with unknown chain localization. Contrary to expectation, neither allelism, nor close linkage were demonstrated for these allotypes. The major feature of the inheritance of H2, H3, and H4 C gamma-allotypes, as well as allotype 5, was significant excess of negative (without these allotypes) progeny in the F1 generation from monohybrid cross. The explanation offered for this departure of the C gamma-allotypes from normal Mendelian genetics suggests widespread latencies of their expression in mink.