GENOTYPING OF ABO BLOOD-GROUPS BY PCR AND RFLP ANALYSIS OF 5 NUCLEOTIDE POSITIONS

The genotyping of ABO blood groups was performed using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. The 4 DNA fragments containing the nucleo tide position 261, 526, 703 and 796 of cDNA from A-transferase were am plified by PCR, and the amplified DNA subjected to restriction fragmen t length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. The different nucleotide at pos ition 803 was clearly distinguished by electrophoresis of the PCR prod ucts amplified with allele-specific primers. By analyzing the electrop horesis patterns, ABO genotyping was conclusively accomplished. The fr equencies of ABO genotypes found in Japanese blood donors with A and B phenotypes were as follows: in the phenotype A group: AA=19.8% and AO =80.2%; and in the phenotype B group, BB=12.8% and BO=87.2%.