Immunoblotting of human red cell membranes: detection of glycophorin B with anti-S and anti-s antibodies.

Human anti-S and anti-s eluates bound to glycophorin B on immunoblots from membranes of S+ and s+ red cells, respectively. Eluates of human anti-S were more efficiently prepared from sensitized trypsin-treated cells than from sensitized untreated cells. The results of immunoblotting membranes from enzyme-treated cells confirmed the serological findings: S and s antigens were not affected by treatment with trypsin or sialidase but were destroyed or much depressed by treatment with papain, pronase or alpha-chymotrypsin. Immunoblotting with anti-S or anti-s of membranes from cells with unusual MNS phenotypes confirms the involvement of glycophorin B in hybrid glycophorins; the existence of such hybrid glycophorins was deduced previously from serological work or immunoblotting with monoclonal antibodies. The presence of s-active glycophorin B in glycophorin (B-A)Dantu, in glycophorin BMiIII and in glycophorin (A-B)MiV was confirmed. The bands observed when Mit+ membranes were immunoblotted with anti-S supports the suggestion from serological work that the Mit antigen is associated with an altered S antigen.