The Dantu erythrocyte phenotype of the NE variety. II. Serology, immunochemistry, genetics, and frequency.

Red cells (RBC) possessing the low-frequency MNSs antigen Dantu from 36 Black individuals (21 propositi) were found to exhibit the NE variety of this phenotype, as judged from the electrophoretic glycophorin (GP) pattern, described in an accompanying article, and/or from the polybrene test which detects the decreased NeuAc level of these RBC. All known DantuNE RBC (53) exhibit the phenotype M+N+. This finding as well as family studies and immunochemical investigations demonstrate that the DantuNE allele encodes a blood group M-specific GP A. Thus, the strongly decreased GP A level of RBC from DantuNE heterozygotes represents the product of the Dantu allele and its normal counterpart. It is suggested that the formation of a complex with the anion channel protein (band 3) represents the prerequisite for optimum incorporation of GP A into normal RBC membranes. The hybrid GP in DantuNE RBC, produced in large quantity, might suppress the incorporation of GP A in a cis and trans manner via the formation of a complex with band 3. The hybrid GP in DantuNE RBC lacks U activity, but expresses N activity and a qualitatively altered s antigen, thus proving its GP B-GP A hybrid nature in conjunction with data described in the accompanying article. Screening of ficin-treated RBC with Vicia lectin revealed that the Dantu phenotype exhibits a frequency of about 0.005 in American Blacks and less than 0.001 in Germans.