The C4 ?-chain: Evidence for a genetically determined polymorphism

Abstract
Using sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) five different β-chain patterns of denaturated human C4 were observed: C4βH, βH>L, βH=L, β H<L, and β L. In 32 families with 174 offspring the segregation of C4 β-chain types followed that of the other major histocompatibility complex (MHC) markers. It is concluded that the C4 β-chain patterns represent a genetically determined polymorphism, coded within the known C4A and B gene region.