Rh polypeptide is a major fatty acid-acylated erythrocyte membrane protein

Journal Article · Mon Dec 05 00:00:00 EST 1988 · J. Biol. Chem.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6611717

de Vetten, M P; Agre, P

The erythrocyte Rh antigens contain an Mr = 32,000 integral protein which is thought to contribute in some way to the organization of surrounding phospholipid. To search for possible fatty acid acylation of the Rh polypeptide, intact human erythrocytes were incubated with (3H)palmitic acid prior to preparation of membranes and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and fluorography. Several membrane proteins were labeled, but none corresponded to the glycophorins or membrane proteins 1-8. An Mr = 32,000 band was prominently labeled on Rh (D)-negative and -positive erythrocytes and could be precipitated from the latter with anti-D. No similar protein was labeled on membranes from Rhmod erythrocytes, a rare phenotype lacking Rh antigens. Labeling of the Rh polypeptide most likely represents palmitic acid acylation through thioester linkages. The 3H label was not extracted with chloroform/methanol, but was quantitatively eluted with hydroxylamine and co-chromatographed with palmitohydroxamate and free palmitate by thin layer chromatography. The fatty acid acylations occurred independent of protein synthesis and were completely reversed by chase with unlabeled palmitate. It is concluded that the Rh polypeptide is fatty acid-acylated, being a major substrate of an acylation-deacylation mechanism associated with the erythrocyte membrane.

• Research Organization: Johns Hopkins Univ. School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6611717
• Journal Information: J. Biol. Chem.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Biol. Chem.; (United States) Vol. 263:34; ISSN JBCHA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550201* -- Biochemistry-- Tracer Techniques
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ACYLATION
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BLOOD GROUPS
BODY FLUIDS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CELL CONSTITUENTS
CELL MEMBRANES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHROMATOGRAPHY
ELECTROPHORESIS
ERYTHROCYTES
HEXADECANOIC ACID
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
LABELLING
MAMMALS
MAN
MATERIALS
MEMBRANE PROTEINS
MEMBRANES
MONOCARBOXYLIC ACIDS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PEPTIDES
POLYPEPTIDES
PRIMATES
PROTEINS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
THIN-LAYER CHROMATOGRAPHY
TRACER TECHNIQUES
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
VERTEBRATES