Genetic polymorphism of human plasma alpha 1B-glycoprotein: phenotyping by immunoblotting or by a simple method of 2-D electrophoresis.

Genetic polymorphism of human plasma (serum) alpha 1B-glycoprotein (alpha 1B) was observed using one-dimensional horizontal polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) pH 9.0 of plasma samples followed by Western blotting with specific antiserum to alpha 1B. A simple method of two-dimensional agarose gel electrophoresis (pH 5.4)-horizontal PAGE (pH 9.0) of plasma samples, followed by general protein staining, was reported as an alternative method for alpha 1B typing. The three different phenotypes of alpha 1B observed (designated 1-1, 1-2, and 2-2) were apparently identical to those reported by Altland et al. (1983), who used double one-dimensional electrophoresis. Family data supported the hypothesis that the three alpha 1B phenotypes are determined by two codominant alleles at an autosomal locus, designated A1B. Allele frequencies in a Swedish population were: A1B1, 0.937; A1B2, 0.063; PIC, 0.111. For clues on linkage relationships of human A1B, the previously known linkages of A1B in pigs and horses, including the one between A1B and the gene that determines susceptibility to malignant hyperthermia in pigs were discussed.