Identification of human glycosyltransferase genes expressed in erythroid cells predicts potential carbohydrate blood group loci.

ABSTRACT: Glycans are biologically important structures synthesised by glycosyltransferase (GT) enzymes. Disruptive genetic null variants in GT genes can lead to serious illness but benign phenotypes are also seen, including antigenic differences on the red blood cell (RBC) surface, giving rise to blood groups. To characterise known and potential carbohydrate blood group antigens without a known underlying gene, we searched public databases for human GT loci and investigated their variation in the 1000 Genomes Project (1000 G). We found 244 GT genes, distributed over 44 families. All but four GT genes had missense variants or other variants predicted to alter the amino acid sequence, and 149 GT genes (61%) had variants expected to cause null alleles, often associated with antigen-negative blood grou

SUBMITTER: Joud M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5902498 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature