Isoelectric focusing studies of transferrin and haptoglobin subtypes in an Australian white population

This investigation presents the results of Hp and Tf subtyping of sera from 307 Australian whites by means of isoelectric focusing. Five Hp alleles were detected, these being Hp1F = 0.168, Hp1S = 0.235, Hp2FF = 0.003, Hp2FS = 0.561 and Hp2SS = 0.033. In the Tf system six alleles were found, TfC1 = 0.761, TfC2 = 0.176, TfC3 = 0.054, TfC6 = 0.002, TfB = 0.006 and TfD = 0.002. The usefulness of IEF together with modifications was highlighted for differentiating Tf and Hp subtypes; in particular, the absence of Hp2FF and Hp2SS in some earlier studies could be related to the technique used. The implication of the simultaneous presence of B and D transferrin variants in Caucasian populations is discussed.