Distribution of Group-Specific Component/Vitamin-D-Binding Protein Subtypes in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The distribution of group-specific component (Gc) phenotypes and the Gc allele frequencies were investigated in 1,082 individuals from five different provinces of Saudi Arabia by the combined use of isoelectric focusing and immunofixation. Between provinces variations in the Gc allele frequencies were found. Gc1S decreased and Gc1F increased from the northwest to the southeast in Saudi Arabia. The overall frequencies in Saudi Arabia were 0.236 for Gc1F, 0.610 for Gc1S, 0.150 for Gc2 and 0.004 for rare alleles. The observed frequencies did not differ significantly from those found in other population samples from the Middle East. In nine samples rare Gc variants were found.