title: Molecular biology of Rh proteins and relevance to molecular medicine.
abstract: The Rhesus (Rh) blood group system is expressed by a pair of 12-transmembrane-domain-containing proteins, the RhCcEe and RhD proteins. RhCcEe and RhD associate as a Rh core complex that comprises one RhD/CcEe protein and most likely two Rh-associated glycoproteins (RhAG) as a trimer. All these Rh proteins are homologous and share this homology with two human non-erythroid proteins, RhBG and RhCG. All Rh protein superfamily members share homology and function in a similar manner to the Mep/Amt ammonium transporters, which are highly conserved in bacteria, plants and invertebrates. Significant advances have been made in our understanding of the structure and function of Rh proteins, as well as in the clinical management of Rh haemolytic disease. This review summarises our current knowledge concerning the molecular biology of Rh proteins and their role in transfusion and pregnancy incompatibility.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research in Biomedicine and Genomics Research Institute, University of the West of England, Coldharbour Lane, Frenchay, Bristol, BS16 1QY, UK. neil.avent@uwe.ac.uk
authors.forename: Neil D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Avent
authors.forename: Tracey E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Madgett
authors.forename: Zoe E
authors.initials: ZE
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Head
authors.forename: Deborah G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Maddocks
authors.forename: Lucy H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Skinner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D019281:Dimerization; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008957:Models, Genetic; D011247:Pregnancy; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D006023:Glycoproteins; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; C066468:RHCE protein, human; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System; C026410:Rho(D) antigen; D002245:Carbon Dioxide