title: Gm and Km immunoglobulin allotypes in Sicily.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the intra- and inter-population variability of the Gm/Km system in the Madonie Mountains, one of the main geographical barriers in north-central Sicily. We analysed 392 samples: 145 from Alia, 128 from Valledolmo, 25 from Cerda and 94 from Palermo. Serum samples were tested for G1m (1,2,3,17), G2m (23), G3m (5,6,10,11,13,14,15,16,21,24,28) and Km (1) allotypes by the standard agglutination-inhibition method. We found the typical genetic patterns of populations in peripheral areas of the Mediterranean basin, with a high frequency of haplotypes Gm5*;3;23 and Gm5*;3;. The frequency of Gm21,28;1,17;. (about 16%) is rather high compared with other southern areas. Of great importance is the presence of the common African haplotype Gm 5*;1,17;., ranging in frequency from 1.56% at Valledolmo to 5.5% at Alia. The presence of this haplotype suggests past contacts with peoples from North Africa. The introduction of African markers could be due to the Phoenician colonization at the end of the 2nd millennium b.c. or to the more recent Arab conquest (8th-9th centuries a.d.).
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal and Human Biology, University of Turin, Via Accademia Albertina 17, 10123, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cerutti
authors.forename: Jean Michel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Dugoujon
authors.forename: Evelyne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Guitard
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rabino Massa
mesh_terms: D000352:Africa, Northern / Q000208:ethnology; D018912:Arabs / Q000235:genetics / Q000266:history; D004641:Emigration and Immigration / Q000266:history; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000235:genetics / Q000266:history; D018703:Founder Effect; D005787:Gene Frequency; D040961:Genetic Drift; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006239:Haplotypes / Q000235:genetics; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D007126:Immunoglobulin Allotypes / Q000235:genetics*; D007127:Immunoglobulin Constant Regions / Q000235:genetics; D007129:Immunoglobulin Gm Allotypes / Q000235:genetics*; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000235:genetics; D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains / Q000235:genetics; D010802:Phylogeny; D012802:Sicily
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers; D007126:Immunoglobulin Allotypes; D007127:Immunoglobulin Constant Regions; D007129:Immunoglobulin Gm Allotypes; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains