Genetic Variants of 6-Phosphogluconate Dehydrogenase in the Indonesian Populations

Blood samples from 2,091 individuals representing 14 Indonesian populations (11 Austronesian and 3 non-Austronesian speakers) have been tested electrophoretically for 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6-PGD). Two common alleles, PGDA and PGDC are found in all populations studied, and the phenotype distribution agrees well with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The PGDC gene frequency varies from as low as 3.5% in the Galelarese to 29% in the Asmat. In general, the PGDC allele seems to decrease in frequency towards the west. A low frequency of PGDC in the Galelarese, a non- Austronesian-speaking population, is thought to be the result of admixture of Austronesian genes, which has not led to language change. In addition to the common alleles, a new variant, PGD A-Lombok, is also described.