Genetic control of major histocompatibility complex-linked immune responses to synthetic polypeptides in man: poly(L-phenylalanine, L-glutamic acid)-poly (DL-alanine)--poly(L-lysine) and L-glutamic acid, L-alanine, L-tyrosine (60:30:10).

Vigorous lymphoproliferative responses to synthetic polypeptides poly(L-phenylalanine, L-glutamic acid)-poly(DL-alanine)--poly(L-lysine) [( Phe,G)-A--L], and L-glutamic acid, L-alanine, L-tyrosine (60:30:10) (GAT) were observed in cells from 92 unrelated subjects. Thirty-three percent responded to (Phe,G)-A--L and 77% to GAT. No HLA association was observed with responses to these two antigens. Family studies indicated that two complementary immune response (Ir) genes are required for response to each antigen. Eleven matings were informative for linkage analysis between HLA and these Ir genes. Families in which the complementary genes are in coupling gave maximal lod scores (log of the odds) of 4.50 for (Phe,G)-A--L and 7.57 for GAT for 0 = 0. In a HLA-B/D recombinant family, the Ir- PheGAL genes are mapped towards the HLA-D region. The localization of Ir-GAT genes close to HLA-B was provided by a HLA-A/B recombinant.