Quantitative Studies on the Inherited Variants of Serum α₁-antitrypsin

Abstract

Each Pi allele, determining a genetic variant of α₁-antitrypsin, results in eight protein zones when human serum is subjected to electrophoresis in starch gels, pH 4.9. Antigen-antibody crossed electrophoresis was adapted to the immunological quantitation of proteins separated by starch gel electrophoresis. The distribution of α₁-antitrypsin among the Pi zones is different from the normal in the allele products of Pi¹ and Pi². The concentration of this protein is lower than normal in the serum from subjects of phenotype SS, MS, ZZ and MZ.

Key Words:

• α₁-antitrypsin
• genetics
• immunoelectrophoresis
• plasma protein
• protease inhibitors
• serum types