Distribution of group-specific component vitamin D-binding protein allelesin Southwestern Japan and geographical clines of allele frequencies in Japanese populations

To scrutinize the geographical clines of allele frequencies of the group-sp ecific component/vitamin-D binding protein (GC) system in Japan, the GC typ es in nine populations of southwestern Japan including Okinawa were determi ned. The frequencies of the common alleles in the island populations, espec ially, Yakushima and Miyako were found to be scattered more extensively tha n those in the populations of the mainland Japan. GC*1A2 was polymorphic in all populations except in the southwesternmost islands, Miyako and Ishigak i. The geographical dines of GC*1F, GC*1S and GC*2 frequencies are discusse d in connection with the migration of the Yayoi era.