Gm and Inv (Km) studies of melanesian people on the Huon Peninsula in northeast Papua New Guinea: Polymorphism for a Gm1,5,10,11,13,14,17,21,26 haplotype

Blood samples from 448 people living in six villages in the Huon Peninsula in northeast Papua, New Guinea, were tested for Gm(1,2,3,5,6,10,11,13,14,17,21,24,26) and Inv(1) [Km(1)]. All the people are non-Austronesian (NAN) speakers. As expected, there was a low frequency of the Gm^{1,3,5,10,11,13,14,26} haplotype, but in contradiction to expectations there was a complete absence of the Gm^1,2,17,21,26 haplotype. In addition, samples from people in one village (Yupna) and probably those for two other villages (Irumu 13 and 14) have the rare haplotype Gm^{1,5,10,11,13,14,21,26} at polymorphic frequencies. Two samples from people living in Yupna had the rare phenotype Gm(1,3,17,21,26), indicating the presence of any one of several rare haplotypes that had been observed in other populations. These are discussed.     

Distribution of the group specific (Gc) serum component in the populations of the Markham Valley, New Guinea

The distribution of the Gc phenotypes was determined by immunoelectrophoresis amongst 486 inhabitants of nine villages of the Markham River Valley of New Guinea. The overall gene frequencies were Gc¹, 0.538; Gc², 0.351; Gc^Aborigine, 0.112. Gc^Aborigine occurred in all the villages, its frequency ranging from 0.041 to 0.187. The Gc² gene frequency also varied widely ranging from 0.167 to 0.491. No correlation could be found between altitude and the Gc distribution and there was an overlap in the gene frequencies between the Austronesian and non-Austronesian-speaking villages.     

Studies on serum groups in the Kumaon region,India

Summary A total of 469 individuals belonging to 4 endogamous groups (Brahamins, Rajputs, Doms and Tharus) from the Kumaon region (North India) were tested for Hp, Gc, Gm and Inv systems.The frequency of the Hp¹ allele is low (0.130–0.220) in all 4 groups as in the case of other Indian populations. The absence of the Gm⁵ allele and high frequency of Inv(1) (49.34%) confirm the Mongoloid affiliations of the Tharus. Brahamins, Rajputs and Doms possess 4 alleles (Gm¹, Gm^1,2, Gm^1,5 and Gm⁵) at the Gm locus and the frequency of Gm^1,2 allele is very low (0.067–0.106) for these groups. The frequency of Inv(1) for Brahamins (19.61%) and Doms (22.78%) lies within the range of variation of European populations. Rajputs, however, show a higher Inv(1) frequency (38.76%).Genetic distances calculated with the help of Hp, Gc and Gm systems demonstrate similarity between Brahamins, Rajputs and Doms and a deviant position for the Tharus.Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.     

Gm and Inv allotypes in a Gypsy sample.

Serum samples from 226 Gypsies were tested for Gm(1,2,4,5,8,10,11,14,17,21,23,25) and for Inv(1,2). The Gm phenotypes found are very numerous and the more frequent among this population are: Gm(4,5, 8,10,11,14,17,23,25) and Gm(1,2,4,5,8,10,11,14,17,21,23,25). All the phenotypes except three can be explained by nine haplotypes: Gm4,5,8,10,11,14,23,25, Gm1,4,5,8,10,11,14,23,25, Gm4,5,8,10,11,14,25, Gm1,17,21, Gm1,10,11,17,25, Gm1,2,17,21, Gm1,8,17,21, Gm1,8,17,21,23 and Gm1,5,10,11,14,17. The haplotypes Gm1,17,21, Gm1,2,17,21, Gm4,5,8,10,11,14,25 (with or without Gm[ 3]) are all three common among Caucasoids, Gm1,4,5,10,11,14,23,25 (common among Mongoloids) and Gm1,5,10,11,14,17 (common to Negroids). For the Inv system, this population possesses a very low frequency of Inv(1) and Inv(2).     

Human-type blood groups and Gm factors in gibbons (Hylobates)

Blood specimens from 69 gibbons (63Hylobates lar, 4Hylobates concolor, and 2Hylobates pileatus) were tested for human-type ABO, MN, and Rh blood groups. AmongH. lar, three phenotypes were noted in the ABO and MN blood groups respectively, but all fourH. concolor were grouped as AM. All group A gibbons were of subgroup A₁; subgroups A₂B and A₁₂B were observed at a low frequency in group AB gibbons. Le^b antigen was detected in about 30% of the red cell samples fromH. lar, but all the samples were negative for Le^a. All the gibbons tested had c(hr) antigen but no other Rh antigens (D, C, E, and e) in their red cells. Some selected blood samples fromH. lar were also tested for some other blood group antigens and for the Gm and Inv factors. The Jk^a antigen was detected in all the red cell samples tested, but the S, s, U, K, k, and Fy^a antigens were not. In the tests of plasma with anti-Gm (1),H. lar could be divided into two groups, i.e., Gm(1)^Gi and Gm(–1)^Gi; Gm(2), Gm(4), and Inv(1) were absent in the species.     

On the incidence of blood group O and Gm(−1) phenotypes in patients with malignant melanoma

Summary Fifteen polymorphic systems of the blood (ABO, MNSs, Rhesus, P, Kell, Duffy, Kidd, Hp, Gc, Gm, Inv, aP, PGM₁, EsD, and 6-PGD) were examined in 191 unrelated male and female patients suffering from malignant melanoma. These polymorphic systems were compared with the corresponding phenotype and gene frequencies of controls from the same geographical area (Rhineland-Palatinate). The only associations discovered were the ABO and Gm polymorphisms: The incidence of O and Gm(-1) phenotypes in patients is obviously higher than in controls. These observations agree with the findings in other population samples from Germany and Bulgaria.     

Serum protein polymorphisms in a village community from the Gambia,West Africa (Hp,Tf, and Gc)

Summary Serum samples from 857 inhabitants of the village of Keneba, The Gambia, West Africa, were examined by means of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In 203 cases no haptoglobin could be detected, whilst in the remaining 654 samples the three common haptoglobin phenotypes were found with gene frequencies of 0.651 (Hp¹) and 0.349 (Hp²). The D₁ transferrin variant gene was found with a frequency of 0.025. In the serum Gc system the fast variant Gc-Ab was detected, the gene frequencies being: Gc¹, 0.943; Gc², 0.044; and Gc^Ab, 0.013.     

Protein chemical characterization of Gc globulin (vitamin D-binding protein) isoforms; Gc-1f, Gc-1s and Gc-2

Gc globulin, also called vitamin D-binding protein, is a plasma protein involved in the extracellular actin-scavenger system, vitamin D transport and possibly also other biological activities. Low levels of Gc globulin have been found to correlate with multiple organ failure and non-survival of patients with fulminant hepatic failure and trauma. Here, we characterize the dominant isoforms of plasma-derived Gc globulin from Cohn fraction IV paste with respect to amino acid sequence and posttranslational modifications. Gc globulin was purified in large scale and the isoforms separated by ion exchange chromatography. The separated isoforms and several commercial preparations of individual isoforms were characterized by mass spectrometry. This revealed that the major isoforms were non-glycosylated. Compared to the Gc-1f isoform the other dominating isoforms represented an Asp/Glu substitution (Gc-1s) and a Thr/Lys substitution (Gc-2) in agreement with DNA sequencing studies. The commercial preparations were found to represent mainly one or two isoforms. An O-linked glycan with a mass of 656 Da and terminating with a sialic acid residue was detected on a minor proportion of Gc globulin molecules.     

The ethnological significance of the gamma-globulin (Gm) factors in melanesia

A study was made of the distribution of the immunoglobulin markers Gm(a), (x), (z), (f), (g), (b⁰), (b¹), (b³), (s), (t), (c³), (c⁵) and Inv (1) and Inv (a) in 906 individuals sampled from several population groups living in various parts of New Guinea and New Britain. A study of 123 families confirmed the presence of the following gene complexes: Gm^za;g, Gm^zax;g, Gm^za;b and Gm^fa;b. Gm(s), (t), (c³) and (c⁵) were absent and either all or none of Gm(b⁰), (b¹) and (b³) present. Striking differences occurred in the geographical and ethnic distribution of the Gm gene complexes. Gm^fa;g was either absent or in very low frequency, and Gm^za;b, Gm^zax;g and Gm^za;g were present in varying frequencies in both the highland and western coastal populations in the mainland of New Guinea. All of these populations spoke non-Austronesian languages. On the other hand Gm^fa;b was present in the Melanesian-speaking Motu of the Central District of the mainland, in the Melanesian-speaking Tolai and the non-Austronesian-speaking Sulka and Baining of the island of New Britain. It is suggested that Gm^fa;b and Gm^za;b are respectively Malayo-Polynesian and pre-Austronesian markers, although a clear cut distinction between modern populations derived from these stocks is often blurred by the effects of gene flow and drift. Considerable ethnic and geographical variation was also found in the distribution of Inv(1) and Inv(a). In two Highland NAN-speaking populations the Inv(1⁺a⁺) phenotype percentages were 1.0 and 5.4, whilst percentages ranging from 0.0 to 56.4% were found for coastal MN-speaking populations. The percentages of Inv(1⁺a⁺) in the total MN- and NAN-speaking populations were 31.6 and 10.0 respectively.     

The frequencies of Gm(1), Gm(2), Gm(4), Gm(12), and Inv(1) in Hessen (Germany)

Summary The serum groups Gm(1) [Gm(a)], Gm(2) [Gm(x)], Gm(4) [Gm(f)]. Gm(12) [Gm(b)] and Inv(1) [Inv(1)] of 2000 sera of healthy blood donors from the land Hesse were examined. The results obtained were compared with those known until now. Three persons, not related to each other, possessed the extremely rare phenotype Gm(-1, 2, 4, 12) [Gm (a-x+b+f+)]. In 0.75% of the cases we found a discordant behaviour of the factors Gm(4) and Gm(12) [Gm(f) and Gm(b)].

---

Zusammenfassung 2000 Seren von gesunden Blutspendern aus Hessen wurden bezüglich der Gamma-Globulin-Serumgruppen Gm(1) [Gm(a)], Gm(2) [Gm(x)], Gm(4) [Gm(f)]. Gm(12) [Gm(b)] und Inv(1) [Inv(1)] untersucht. Die gefundenen Resultate wurden mit den bisher bekannten verglichen. Drei miteinander nicht verwandte Personen wiesen den äußerst seltenen Phänotyp Gm(-1, 2, 4, 12) [Gm(a-x+b+f+)] auf. In 0.75% der Fälle fanden wir ein diskordantes Verhalten der Faktoren Gm(4) und Gm(12) [Gm(f) und Gm(b)].

---

---

Director: Prof. Dr. W. Wachsmuth

---

Director: Prof. Dr. W. Spielmann

---

The nomenclature suggested by WHO at a round-table conference over genes, genotypes and allotypes of immunglobulins is used. The conference took place in Geneva on the 1965 31. 5. to the 5. 6. [5].

---

With technical assistance of S. Mohs.     

Contribution to the genetics of the serum β-lipoproteins in man

Summary A study on the possible existence of association and linkage of the Ag(x,y,a₁) system with ABO, MNSs, Pp, Rhesus, Kell, Duffy, Gm, Inv, Hp, and Gc groups is presented. No evidence of association and linkage was found.     

Why Alewai village needed a church: Some reflections on Christianity,conversion, and male leadership in south‐east Papua New Guinea

In the Vula'a villages of south‐east Papua New Guinea, the experience of more than a century of Christianity has been incorporated into local understandings of identity and tradition. Church‐building (in both the architectural and ideological sense) is at the centre of village life. Even though it was a general policy of the London Missionary Society to build a church in every village in which conversion was undertaken, they did not build a church in the Vula'a village of Alewai. In 2001 the fact that Alewai did not have a church initiated a chain of events that draws attention to a situation of current relevance for Papua New Guinea, as evangelists no longer work to convert the ‘heathen’ but to convert Christians from one denomination to another. As a case study the article is focused on the pastors and deacons of the United Church and thus also serves to document some of the changes that have occurred in male leadership since the early colonial era.     

Lack of association and linkage between β-thalassemia and some serum protein systems (Gm,Inv, Hp,Gc, and Ag)

Summary No evidence of association or linkage between -thalassemia and the Gm, Inv, Hp, Gc, and Ag serum protein systems was found in the study of 90 Italian thalassemic families.     

Human-type ABO,MN, and Lewis blood groups,and Gm and Inv factors in several species of macaques

More than 1,000 blood samples were collected from macaques of speciesM. fuscata, M. cyclopis, M. irus, M. mulatta, M. nemestrina, andM. speciosa, and all or a part of them were tested for human-type ABO, MN, and Lewis blood groups, and Gm and Inv factors. Differences between and/or within species analogous to racial differences in man were markedly noted in the distribution of the ABO and Lewis blood groups. Saliva samples from a small number ofM. fuscata were tested quantitatively for the presence of H and Lewis substances, and it was found that almost all the animals were secretors of H, Le^a, and Le^b, independently of the Lewis blood groups of their red cells. Red cells of all macaques tested contained M or M-like, but not N^v(V), antigens, and no polymorphism of MN blood groups was present. Selected plasma samples fromM. fuscata, M. cyclopis, M. irus, andM. nemestrina were found to be negative for all Gm(1), Gm(2), Gm(4), and Inv(1) factors tested.This study was supported in part by the Japan Society for Promotion of Science Grant B-54 and by National Science Foundation Grant FJ 4.11. 1 as part of the Japan-U.S. Cooperative Science Program.     

The heterogeneity of human Gc-globulin.

Gc-globulin or group-specific component, also known as the vitamin D-binding protein, was investigated by the combined use of electrofocusing and immunofixation. Serum of the Gc 2-2 type was found to contain a single protein band whereas serum of the Gc 1-1 type shows two bands with a lower isoelectric point. The Gc 1-2 type contains all three bands known as Gc-2 (pI 5.10), Gc-1Slow (pI 5.03), and Gc-1Fast (pI 4.95). Each apoprotein shows an anodal shift of about 0.07 pH unit after incubation with an excess of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol. After treatment with sialidase Gc-1Fast focuses in the position of Gc-1Slow, whereas the position of Gc-2 remains unchanged.     

Gm and Inv allotypes of some Sidamo Ethiopians

One hundred and forty serum samples from Ethiopians from three tribes of the Sidamo group were tested for their Gm and Inv phenotypes. The Gm antigens 1,2,3,5,6,13,14,21 were determined on all samples, and Gm(15) and Gm(16) were determined on selected samples. All samples were tested for Inv(1), and those positive for Inv(1) were tested for Inv(3). The samples fall into 18 Gm phenotypes and require seven haplotypes to explain them. The data indicate that these Ethiopians have Negroid, Caucasoid, and Bushmanoid ancestry, with the latter constituting a relatively small proportion of the ancestry and the former two contributing about equally to the remainder. The data are consistent with the conclusions of cultural anthropologists.     

Analyse der Koppelung zwischen dem HL-A-System und anderen Loci

Zusammenfassung Die Koppelung der HL-A-Gene mit den Loci ABO, Rh, MNSs, P, Fy, Jk, K, SEP, PGM ₁, AK, ADA, GPT, Hp, Gm, Inv, Gc, Pt und Se wurde mit Hilfe der Lod-score-Methode untersucht. Es wurde dabei kein Hinweis für eine enge Koppelung zwischen den HL-A-Loci und den anderen Genorten gefunden.

---

Analysis of the linkage between the HL-A loci and the genes of other markers

Summary The linkage of the HL-A genes with the loci ABO, Rh, MNSs, P. Fy, Jk, K, acP, PGM ₁, AK, ADA, GPT, Hp, Gm, Inv, Gc, Pt and ABH secretion was analyses using the lod-score method. There was no evidence for a close linkage between the HL-A loci and the genes of the other markers.

---

---

National Blood Group Reference Laboratory (WHO), National Tissue Typing Reference Laboratory (Council of Europe)     

Investigations on the distribution of genetic polymorphisms in Greece. 2. Serum protein polymorphisms

113 Greeks living in W. Germany and coming from various parts of Greece and 281 individuals from the Isle of Alonissos (northern Aegean Sea) have been typed for six serum protein polymorphisms, namely haptoglobin, group specific component (Gc), C 3, transferrin subtypes, Gm (1, 2, 3, 5, 13), and Inv (1). The gene frequencies obtained in these two samples are compared with the up to now reported data from other Greek populations. They show a marked genetic heterogeneity with respect to these polymorphisms.     

Associations between atopic diseases and the polymorphic systems ABO,kidd, inv and red cell acid phosphatase

Summary In 239 German patients with atopic conditions (atopic dermatitis, hay fever, allergic rhinitis, bronchial asthma, and acute urticaria) the phenotype and gene distribution of 15 genetic blood polymorphisms (ABO, MNSs, Rhesus, P, Kell, Duffy, Kidd, Hp, Gc, Gm, Inv, aP, PGM₁, EsD, and 6-PGD) were analyzed and compared with those in 151 selected controls (individuals clinically free of allergic conditions and without allergy in the family history). The incidence of blood group antigens A and B was somewhat higher in patients than in controls. These observations are in accordance with the results of previous studies in other populations. In addition, our observation favor the hypothesis that there are also associations between the phenotypes Jk (a-b+), Inv(1) and red cell acid phosphatase aP a and aP AP on the one hand and atopic disposition on the other. The possible reasons for these associations are discussed.     

Serum protein polymorphisms Hp, Tf, Gc, Gm, Inv and Pt in Bantu speaking South African Negroids

Frequencies for the genetic polymorphisms of the serum proteins Hp, Tf, Gc, Gm, Inv and Pt are presented for 7 ethnically defined Negroid sub-samples (total n = 918--977, depending on genetic marker system) from South Africa. The results are discussed in terms of previous findings and of factors assumed to have an influence on the distribution of the particular genetic markers. The present report on the Pt ("post transferrin" approximately C3) polymorphism represents the first report on the genetic variation of the corresponding beta1A-globulin fraction within African Negroids (PtA = 0.009, PtB = 0.966, PtC = 0.025).