Linkage between the poly-L-lysine gene and the locus controlling the major histocompatibility antigens in strain 2 guinea pigs.

The data presented demonstrate linkage between the major histocompatibility locus of inbred strain 2 guinea pigs and a "specific immune response gene," the PLL gene, which controls responsiveness to poly-L-lysine and hapten conjugates of this polypeptide in these animals. This finding extends to another species and to a different immune system the linkage observed in mice between the H(2) locus and specific immune response genes at the Ir-1 locus. The general significance of the linkage of specific immune response genes to histocompatibility loci is discussed.