Comparative immunochemical analysis of Wra and Wrb red cell antigens.

This paper describes immunoblotting and immunoprecipitation studies using monoclonal anti-Wra and anti-Wrb antibodies to investigate the nature of the low-incidence blood group antigen, Wra and its high-incidence allelic antigen Wrb. No membrane components were identified by the immunoblotting experiments. Immunoprecipitation studies confirmed that the Wrb antigen involves both glycophorin A and band 3. The monoclonal anti-Wra, BGU1-WR, failed to immunoprecipitate these or any othe red cell membrane component. The significance of these findings is discussed.