Altered Membrane Sialoglycoproteins in Human Erythrocytes Lacking the Gerbich Blood Group Antigens

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The sialoglycoproteins (glycophorins) in human red cell membranes of rare individuals lacking totally (Ge-1,-2,-3 phenotype) or partially (Ge-1,-2,3 phenotype) the Gerbich (Ge) blood group antigens and 2 Ge-1,-2,-3 heterozygotes were studied by dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic techniques. Two sialoglycoproteins (components D and E) were not detectable in the membranes from the homozygotes and found to be decreased by about 50% in those from the heterozygotes. Ge-1,-2,-3 and Ge-1,-2,3 cells were found to contain a new component (mol. masses about 29 and 30 [kdalton], respectively) possibly representing a D/E hybrid molecule. This sialoglycoprotein was not detectable in membranes from the Ge-1,-2,-3 heterozygotes, suggesting that the Ge-1,-2,-3 phenotype may be caused by at least 2 different alleles at the Ge blood group antigen locus. Hemagglutination or hemagglutination inhibition tests involving anti-Ge1,2,3 and -Ge1,2 as well as native and enzyme-treated normal red cells (phenotype Ge1,2,3) or membrane and sialoglycoprotein fractions from normal erythrocytes indicate that the receptors of these sera are located with the glycosylated domain(s) of the D and/or E sialoglycoprotein(s). Apparently, the Ge locus encodes the polypeptide sequences of the D and E sialoglycoproteins.

This publication has 23 references indexed in Scilit: