F. Steers et al., DENATURING GRADIENT GEL-ELECTROPHORESIS - A NOVEL METHOD FOR DETERMINING RH PHENOTYPE FROM GENOMIC DNA, British Journal of Haematology, 94(2), 1996, pp. 417-421
Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) was carried out on PCR
products amplified from exons 2 and 5 of RHD and RHCE. Exon 2 of RHD a
nd exon 2 of the C allele of RHCE have an identical sequence, which di
ffers from that of the c allele of RHCE. One band representing D and/o
r C, and another representing c, could be distinguished by DGGE of exo
n 2 amplifications of genomic DNA from individuals with the appropriat
e Rh phenotype. C and c could only be distinguished in D-negative samp
les. Exon 5 of RHD and exon 5 of the E and e alleles of RHCE all have
different nucleotide sequences. Bands representing D, E and e could be
distinguished following DGGE of the products of exon 5 amplification
of genomic DNA from individuals with red cells of the appropriate Rh p
henotype. In samples from individuals with VS+ red cells (V+ or V-) th
ere was a shift of the band representing e. Sequencing demonstrated th
at VS is associated with a RHCE e sequence with a single base change p
redicting a Leu245 --> Val substitution in the Rh polypeptide. This su
bstitution may be responsible for the VS and e(s) antigens.