Blood groups and their function.

The function(s) assigned to red blood cell membrane components is based on an observed effect in the red cells that lack the component, comparison of the protein sequence (predicted from the nucleotide sequence of the gene) to proteins of known function, and extrapolation of function of the component in other cells. The functions are varied and include membrane structure, transport, receptor, adhesion, enzyme activity, complement components, complement regulation and glycocalyx formation. Several components have more than one function. Copyright 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.