Human erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase bears the Yta blood group antigen and is reduced or absent in the Yt(a-b-) phenotype.
The Cartwright (Yt) blood group antigens have previously been shown likely to reside on a phosphatidylinositol-linked erythrocyte membrane protein. In this study, an unusual individual whose red blood cells (RBCs) were of the previously unreported Yt(a-b-) phenotype were used, along with normal Yt(a+) cells, to investigate serologically and biochemically the relationship of the Yta antigen to known phosphatidylinositol-linked erythrocyte proteins. Yt(a-b-) RBCs expressed normal amounts of various phosphatidyl-inositol-linked proteins except acetylcholinesterase. Further, human anti-Yta reacted with acetylcholinesterase in immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting studies. Thus, acetylcholinesterase is now identified as the protein bearing the Yt blood group antigens.
Rao
N
N
Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710.
Whitsett
C F
CF
Oxendine
S M
SM
Telen
M J
MJ
D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001789:Blood Group Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000201:enzymology*; D006801:Humans; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010641:Phenotype; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001789:Blood Group Antigens; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase