Notation for Serum-Protein Groups and the Genes controlling their Inheritance

Abstract

SEVERAL workers^1–3 have described the presence in serum of a protein with the striking characteristic of binding hæmoglobin. During electrophoresis on filter paper, this hæmoglobin-binding protein migrates in the α₂-globulin position. It is the haptoglobin of Jayle et al. ¹. The serum-protein groups described by Smithies^4,5 are characterized by several proteins demonstrated by electrophoresis in starch gels which also have this property of binding hæmoglobin. They appear to be the only serum proteins with hæmoglobulin-binding powers. Furthermore, they also migrate in the α₂-globulin position when the electrophoresis is carried out on filter paper^5,6. Consequently, the identity of haptoglobin and the proteins characterizing the serum groups can be regarded as established, even though previous work had not shown the multiple nature of haptoglobin. The serum-protein groups are therefore basically determ ined by differences in the haptoglobins of different individuals.