A novel JK*02 allele in a French Canadian family

摘要

Four phenotypes have been described in the JK blood group system (ISBT009): Jk(a+b-), Jk(a+b+), Jk(a-b+), and Jk(a-b-), and the null phenotype Jk(a-b-) is rare. The molecular basis for the two main JK antigens is located at Nucleotide 838 (G for Jk~a (Asp280), A for Jk~b (Asn280)). Null alleles have been described in air populations, but are more frequent in Polynesian and Finn persons, and variant alleles are also described in black persons.We report a novel JK*02 allele found in a French Canadian woman which abolishes the Jk~b expression. Family members were tested for inheritance of this novel allele.