GM AND KM ALLOTYPES IN 9 POPULATION SAMPLES OF SICILY

Serum samples of 864 unrelated healthy male and female individuals bel onging to nine provinces of Sicily were types for Glm (1,2,3,17), G3m (5,10,11,13,14,15,16,21), and KM (1). With the exception of the Trapan i sample these samples are characterized by the presence of five GM ha plotypes: GM1,17;21,26; GM*1,2,17;21,26; GM*1,3;5,10,11,13,14,26; GM* 3;5,10,13,14,26; and GM1,17;10,11,13,15,16. The interpopulation varia bility in the distribution of these haplotypes is considerable, which is especially due to haplotypes GM1,3;5,10,11,13,14,26, and GM*3;5,10 ,13,14,26. However, no clear-cut clustering of the samples according t o historical or geographical facts could be shown. Comparisons with ot her Italian populations reveal the considerable genetic difference of the Sicilians, which is in particular caused by the presence of the ha plotypes GM1,3;5,10,11,13,14,26, and GM*1,17;10,11,13,15,16. These ha plotypes are quite uncommon in Europeans and may reflect gene how from the Middle East. The KM phenotype and allele frequencies also show a considerable interpopulation variability among the nine Sicilian sampl es, but as for GM no distinction between eastern and western provinces of Sicily is present.