Abnormalities in the glycosphingolipid content of human Pk and p erythrocytes.

Erythrocytes of the rare Pk phenotype lack the blood group P antigen, and p erythrocytes lack both P and Pk antigens. On the basis of immunological data we suggested previously that the P and Pk antigens are the glycosphingolipids globoside and trihexosyl ceramide, respectively, and we have now confirmed these designations by chemical analysis of erythrocytes lacking these antigens. The Pk erythrocytes contain only traces of globoside and have a marked excess of trihexosyl ceramide in comparison with normal erythrocytes. The p erythrocytes lack globoside and trihexosyl ceramide and contain an excess of lactosyl ceramide and other complex glycolipids. Our analyses of normal erythrocytes also revealed complex gangliosides with the approximate chromatographic mobilities of GD1b and GT1, and several gangliosides containing N-acetylglucosamine.