Insights into the structure and function of membrane polypeptides carrying blood group antigens.
In recent years, advances in biochemistry and molecular genetics have contributed to establishing the structure of the genes and proteins from most of the 23 blood group systems presently known. Current investigations are focusing on genetic polymorphism analysis, tissue-specific expression, biological properties and structure-function relationships. On the basis of this information, the blood group antigens were tentatively classified into five functional categories: (i) transporters and channels, (ii) receptors for exogenous ligands, viruses, bacteria and parasites, (iii) adhesion molecules, (iv) enzymes and, (v) structural proteins. This review will focus on selected blood groups systems (RH, JK, FY, LU, LW, KEL and XK) which are representative of these classes of molecules, in order to illustrate how these studies may bring new information on common and variant phenotypes and for understanding both the mechanisms of tissue specific expression and the potential function of these antigens, particularly those expressed in nonerythroid lineage.
INSERM Research Unit U76, Institut National de la Transfusion Sanguine, Paris, France. cartron@infobiogen.fr
J P
JP
Cartron
P
P
Bailly
C
C
Le Van Kim
B
B
Cherif-Zahar
G
G
Matassi
O
O
Bertrand
Y
Y
Colin
D000745:Anemia, Hemolytic, Congenital / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D001789:Blood Group Antigens / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D019070:Cell Lineage; D018925:Chemokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004375:Duffy Blood-Group System / Q000502:physiology; D004798:Enzymes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D000939:Epitopes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007626:Kell Blood-Group System / Q000502:physiology; D007667:Kidd Blood-Group System / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D007797:Laminin / Q000378:metabolism; D008188:Lutheran Blood-Group System / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D010641:Phenotype; D010966:Plasmodium vivax / Q000378:metabolism; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D017474:Receptors, Laminin / Q000378:metabolism; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014508:Urea / Q000378:metabolism
D001789:Blood Group Antigens; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D018925:Chemokines; D004375:Duffy Blood-Group System; D004798:Enzymes; D000939:Epitopes; D007626:Kell Blood-Group System; D007667:Kidd Blood-Group System; D007797:Laminin; D008188:Lutheran Blood-Group System; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D017474:Receptors, Laminin; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System; D014508:Urea