Two BF F subtypes, but no BF S, BF F1 or BF S07 subdivision, are found by isoelectric focusing.

When studied by immunoelectrophoresis the factor B (BF)*F allele is a monomorphic protein, but by using isoelectric focusing (IEF), it turns out to be polymorphic. Two BF*F allelic subdivisions, BF*FA and BF*FB, were detected in samples from unrelated Spanish donors; *FA and *FB are in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, segregate as autosomal codominant alleles in families, and BF*FA (but not BF*FB) is found to be in linkage disequilibrium with B44 and DR7 and is within the A29, B44, Bw4, Cx, CFA31, DR7, DRw53, DQ2 haplotype. Furthermore, BF FA individuals have a higher BF serum concentration than the BF FB individuals. The subdivision of BF S observed with IEF was found to be due to nonspecific BF S cleavage by serum proteases in inadequately collected or aged samples. Thus, the subdivision of BF S is spurious and was not found in our sera. BF F1 and BF S07 could not be further subdivided by IEF in our subjects. The BF F1 banding pattern was characterised by the presence of a cathodal band which corresponds to the Bb activation fragment. Finally, IEF combined with immunoblotting and monoclonal Ba and Bb antibodies may be used for accurately distinguishing BF phenotypes and doubtful bands.