Genetic analysis of human lymphocyte proteins by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis: 2. Genetic polymorphism of lymphocyte cytosol 64K polypeptide.

We describe a genetic polymorphism of human lymphocyte cytosol major polypeptide with mol. wt. 64,000, detected in peripheral blood lymphocytes by high resolution two-dimensional electrophoresis. Three different electrophoretic types (1-1, 2-1, 2-2) of the polypeptide have been identified. Family and population studies indicate that the three phenotypes of the polypeptide are determined by two common alleles at a single autosomal locus. The polypeptide occurs in the cytosol and is predominant in peripheral blood lymphocytes, B-lymphoblastoid cells, T-lymphoblastoid cells, lymph node, and spleen. The polypeptide has not been detected HeLa cells, fibroblasts, erythrocytes, serum, and cerebrum. Traces of the polypeptide exist in liver, kidney, and skeletal muscle. It is proposed that the polypeptide and its locus be temporarily designated lymphocyte cytosol 64K polypeptide (LC64K polypeptide) and LC64P, respectively. In a Japanese population, the gene frequencies of LC64P1 and LC64P2 were 0.936 and 0.064, respectively. The data suggest that LC64P is a new locus, product of which shows genetic polymorphism and is associated with the function and/or the structure of lymphocytes.