Genetic control of red-cell nucleoside transport and its association with the B blood-group locus and nucleoside phosphorylase activity in sheep.

Nucleoside transport in sheep red cells is controlled by two allelomorphic genes, the gene for nucleoside transport deficiency (NuI) being dominant to that for the functional presence of carrier-mediated nucleoside transport activity (Nui). Sheep are also polymorphic with respect to their red-cell nucleoside phosphorylase (NP) activity, some having high activities and others low activities of this enzyme. The gene for high activity (NPH) is incompletely dominant to that for low activity (NPL). Inheritance data indicate that the Nu locus is genetically linked to that for the B blood-group system and, in addition, exerts a pleiotropic effect on NP activity, Nu permeability stabilizing the heat-labile NPL gene product. Nu-permeable cells have a higher ATP content than Nu-impermeable red cells, and within the Nu-impermeable subgroup, NP deficiency causes a further reduction in red cell ATP concentration. It is concluded that the nucleoside inosine supplements glucose as a physiological energy substrate in sheep red cells.