Insights into the structure and function of membrane polypeptides carrying blood group antigens

Vox Sang. 1998:74 Suppl 2:29-64. doi: 10.1111/j.1423-0410.1998.tb05397.x.

Abstract

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.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anemia, Hemolytic, Congenital / blood
  • Anemia, Hemolytic, Congenital / genetics
  • Animals
  • Blood Group Antigens / chemistry*
  • Blood Group Antigens / classification
  • Blood Group Antigens / genetics
  • Blood Group Antigens / immunology
  • Carrier Proteins / chemistry
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins / immunology
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / chemistry
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / genetics
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / immunology
  • Cell Lineage
  • Chemokines / metabolism
  • Duffy Blood-Group System / physiology
  • Enzymes / chemistry
  • Enzymes / genetics
  • Enzymes / immunology
  • Epitopes / chemistry
  • Epitopes / immunology
  • Evolution, Molecular
  • Forecasting
  • Humans
  • Kell Blood-Group System / physiology
  • Kidd Blood-Group System / chemistry
  • Kidd Blood-Group System / physiology
  • Laminin / metabolism
  • Lutheran Blood-Group System / metabolism
  • Membrane Proteins / chemistry*
  • Membrane Proteins / classification
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / immunology
  • Phenotype
  • Plasmodium vivax / metabolism
  • Polymorphism, Genetic
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / chemistry
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / genetics
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / immunology
  • Receptors, Laminin / metabolism
  • Rh-Hr Blood-Group System / chemistry
  • Rh-Hr Blood-Group System / genetics
  • Rh-Hr Blood-Group System / immunology
  • Rh-Hr Blood-Group System / physiology
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Urea / metabolism

Substances

  • Blood Group Antigens
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • Chemokines
  • Duffy Blood-Group System
  • Enzymes
  • Epitopes
  • Kell Blood-Group System
  • Kidd Blood-Group System
  • Laminin
  • Lutheran Blood-Group System
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Receptors, Laminin
  • Rh-Hr Blood-Group System
  • Urea