title: Hot spots in the red cell membrane: molecular aspects of some red cell antigens.
abstract: After decades of studying the human blood groups by serological and, more recently, biochemical techniques, analysis of blood group genes at the molecular level has confirmed that a variety of different genetical events have given rise to the vast complexity of blood group systems. In order to illustrate this 4 blood group systems have been selected: ABO and H, involving carbohydrate determinants, and MNS and Rh, involving predominantly protein antigens. The molecular basis of the A1, A2, B, and O groups, and of the rare H-deficiency phenotypes will be described. The Sta antigen of the MNS system will be discussed in order to illustrate the variety of different genetic mechanisms that can give rise to a single rare antigen. Finally, recent work on the molecular basis of the polymorphic Rh antigens, D, C, c, E, and e, and on some rare Rh phenotypes, Rhnull, D--, and r's, will be explained briefly in order to emphasize the complexity of blood group genetics.
authors.affiliation: MRC Blood Group Unit, London, UK.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Daniels
mesh_terms: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System / Q000276:immunology; D001789:Blood Group Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D002240:Carbohydrate Sequence; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007519:Isoantigens / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry*; D008951:MNSs Blood-Group System / Q000276:immunology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D001789:Blood Group Antigens; D007519:Isoantigens; D008951:MNSs Blood-Group System; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System