ERIK, a low‐frequency red cell antigen of the MNS blood group system associated with Sta

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Abstract
Summary. A new low‐frequency red cell antigen, ERIK (MNS37), is associated with the Sta antigen of the MNS system. Four ERIK + propositi have been identified: all are St(a+). Thirteen other St(a+) samples, including one of the Mz type, and over 200 St(a‐) samples were ERIK‐. In two of the propositi ERIK is associated with an abnormal trypsin‐resistant M antigen; in the others it is associated with N, which is shown to be expressed weakly in one family. Immunoblotting with an antibody to an epitope common to glycophorin A (GPA) and glycophorin B (GPB) gave identical results with St(a+) EiRIK + and St(a+) ERIK‐cells, revealing GPA, GPB, an abnormal structure GPSta aggregates of these components. In the propositi with trypsin‐resistant M, GPStacarries the unusual M antigen, whereas in the M ‐ N + ERIK+ individual analysed by immunoblotting GPSta carries N. Immunoblotting with anti‐Sta anti‐ERIK showed that Sta is located on GPSta but that ERIK is located on GPA, presumably the GPA molecule encoded by the GYPA gene contiguous to the gene encoding GPSta.