The distribution of blood-group antigens on butanol extraction of human erythrocyte ‘ghosts’

The distribution of protein and blood-group-antigen activity obtained after butanol extraction of erythrocyte `ghosts' under various conditions is described. Butanol extraction under low-ionic strength conditions results in the recovery of membrane protein in high yield in the aqueous phase. Blood-group-A activity is found in both the aqueous and butanol phases, whereas blood-group-P activity is confined to the butanol phase and blood-group-I and blood-group-MN activity are restricted to the aqueous phase. Much lower yields of protein are obtained in the aqueous phase when high-ionic-strength conditions are used. An appreciable amount of material is precipitated at the interface. Under these conditions blood-group-P activity is found only in the butanol phase, blood group-A activity in the butanol phase and interface material and only blood-group-MN activity in the aqueous phase. In contrast with previous reports no correlation could be demonstrated between the secretor status of the donors and the presence of blood-group-A activity in the aqueous phase after butanol extraction under any of the extraction conditions used. By using butanol extraction under high-ionic-strength conditions it is possible to isolate the blood-group-MN-active sialoglycoprotein in high yield from erythrocyte `ghosts' by a simple procedure.