GENES FOR POLYMORPHIC H1 HISTONES ARE LINKED IN THE JAPANESE-QUAIL GENOME

In a previous report (Patyga, J., Biochem. Genet. 29, 431-445, 1991), three subtypes of erythrocyte histone HI were found to vary in a Japan ese quail population. While H1.b and H1.z histones were each represent ed by two electro-morphs differing in apparent molecular weights, a po lymorphism of histone H1.a was connected with a lack of this protein i n some birds. As a genetic basis for this variability was demonstrated only in H1.b, here genetic delta are provided which indicate that bot h H1.a and H1.z are encoded by two codominant alleles at a locus. A li nkage analysis of family data in 13 quail pedigrees has revealed a sig nificant linkage between H1.a and H1.z and between H1.b and H1.z (lod scores about 12 and 5, respectively). Thus, a gene for histone H1.z is located between H1.a and H1.b in the quail genome.