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.

Duke Scholars

Author Marilyn Jo Telen Medicine, Hematology