Inherited polymorphism of guinea pig factor B and C4: evidence for genetic linkage between the C4 and Bf loci

An inherited structural polymorphism of the guinea pig complement protein C4 and of factor B of the alternative pathway was demonstrated by use of high voltage agarose electrophoresis combined with a subsequent immunofixation technique. No polymorphism of guinea pig C3 could be shown. Three common allelic genes were proven to code for C4-S, C4-S1, and C4-F, respectively. Two common allelic genes are responsible for the Bf-F and Bf-S phenotype expression. A strong linkage disequilibrium between both C4 and Bf was demonstrated.