A PstI polymorphism for the human erythrocyte surface protein band 3 (EPB3) demonstrates close linkage of EPB3 to the nerve growth factor receptor

Autosomal dominant distal renal tubular acidosis is associated in three families with heterozygosity for the R589H mutation in the AE1 (band 3) Cl-/HCO3- exchanger

Distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA) is characterized by defective urinary acidification by the distal nephron. Cl-/HCO3- exchange mediated by the AE1 anion exchanger in the basolateral membrane of type A intercalated cells is thought to be an essential component of lumenal H+ secretion by collecting duct intercalated cells. We evaluated the AE1 gene as a possible candidate gene for familial dRTA. We found in three unrelated families with autosomal dominant dRTA that all clinically affected individuals were heterozygous for a single missense mutation encoding the mutant AE1 polypeptide R589H. Patient red cells showed approximately 20% reduction in sulfate influx of normal 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid sensitivity and pH dependence. Recombinant kidney AE1 R589H expressed in Xenopus oocytes showed 20-50% reduction in Cl-/Cl- and Cl-/HCO3- exchange, but did not display a dominant negative phenotype for anion transport when coexpressed with wild-type AE1. One apparently unaffected individual for whom acid-loading data were unavailable also was heterozygous for the mutation. Thus, in contrast to previously described heterozygous loss-of-function mutations in AE1 associated with red cell abnormalities and apparently normal renal acidification, the heterozygous hypomorphic AE1 mutation R589H is associated with dominant dRTA and normal red cells.

A nonsense mutation in the erythrocyte band 3 gene associated with decreased mRNA accumulation in a kindred with dominant hereditary spherocytosis

We studied a French kindred with typical hereditary spherocytosis (HS). Studies of erythrocytes and erythrocyte membranes from HS individuals revealed abnormal erythrocyte membrane mechanical stability as well as 15-20% deficiency of band 3, the anion transporter. Anion transport studies of red cells from two affected individuals revealed decreased sulfate flux. Nucleotide sequence of cDNA encoding the distal third of the cytoplasmic domain and the entire transmembrane domain of band 3 obtained by RT-PCR of reticulocyte RNA of an affected family member was normal. Sequence analysis of genomic DNA from an HS individual identified a nonsense mutation of the band 3 gene, Q330X, near the end of the band 3 cytoplasmic domain. This mutation was present in genomic DNA of all HS family members and absent in DNA of unaffected family members. Using an RT-PCR-based assay, a marked quantitative decrease in accumulation of the mutant band 3 RNA was detected. Thus the codon 330 nonsense mutation is responsible for the decreased accumulation of mutant band 3 RNA and the deficiency of band 3 protein in this kindred. These results have important implications for the role of band 3 defects in the membrane pathobiology of HS as well as for the techniques used in detection of HS mutations.

A point mutation in the protein 4.2 gene (allele 4.2 Tozeur) associated with hereditary haemolytic anaemia

A recessively transmitted haemolytic anaemia associated with the lack of protein 4.2 was found in a Tunisian kindred. Trace amounts of this protein (72 kD component) became visible using high-sensitivity Western blots. Band 3 and ankyrin genes were excluded as candidate genes by linkage studies, and nucleotide sequencing of band 3 cytoplasmic domain cDNA revealed no alteration. In contrast, protein 4.2 gene contained in the homozygous state a mutation at position 310: CGA-->CAA (Arg-->Gln). This mutation defining allele 4.2 Tozeur was co-inherited with the disease. The mRNA encoding the variant protein was normal in size and approximately normal in amount. Recombinant protein 4.2 Tozeur bound normally to red cell IOVs but disclosed an increased susceptibility to proteolysis in vitro. We infer that the nearly total absence of protein 4.2 in the patients results from imbalance between destruction and synthesis of mutated protein 4.2 prior to its binding to the membrane.

Changes in cytoskeletal proteins and their mRNAs during maturation of human erythroid progenitor cells

We have used highly purified human early erythroid progenitors to study changes in cytoskeletal proteins during their maturation and terminal differentiation. When erythroid progenitors at the burst-forming unit-erythroid (BFU-E) stage of development are grown in the presence of erythropoietin, the cells mature and terminally differentiate into reticulocytes during a 14-15-day culture period. We have shown by immunofluorescence that spectrin is present in day 3 BFU-E, at which time proteins band 3, ankyrin, and band 4.1 cannot be detected. Ankyrin and band 4.1 were detected in the majority of the cells by day 7 of culture, at the colony-forming unit (CFU)-E stage, whereas only 15% of the cells were positive for band 3 protein on day 7 of culture. The mRNA level for spectrin was already at its maximum on day 8 whereas the mRNAs for band 3, ankyrin, and band 4.1 were just beginning to accumulate. After enucleation, spectrin, band 3, ankyrin, and band 4.1 fluorescence were all associated with the reticulocytes. Actin was localized at the constriction between the extruding nucleus and the incipient reticulocyte in enucleating erythroblasts suggesting a key role for actin in the enucleation of human erythroblasts. Our investigations have also shown that purified human erythroid progenitors cultured in serum-free suspension media are capable of enucleating without the requirement of an extracellular matrix. These results demonstrate that the synthesis and expression of major cytoskeletal proteins in the human erythrocyte membrane occur in an asynchronous manner and that the remodeling of the membrane skeleton begins at a very early stage during erythrocyte development.

Analysis of a PstI polymorphism of the human erythrocyte band 3 gene (EPB3)

The genomic structure of a 1.5 kb region near the 5' end of the human erythrocyte band 3 gene (EPB3) was determined and the location of a two-allele PstI polymorphism in this region identified. Using this information, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assay was designed for rapid, simple identification of the PstI polymorphism.

The major integral proteins of the human red cell

The structures and functions of the major human red cell integral membrane proteins are summarized in this review. The proteins that are discussed are the anion transporter (band 3), the sialic acid-rich glycophorins and the glucose transporter. Band 3 (AE1) is a member of a family of anion transporters which carry out Cl-/HCO3- exchange. AE1 is largely restricted to red cells and functions in CO2 transport between the tissues and lungs. In addition to its transport function band 3 acts as an anchor site to the membrane of the red cell skeleton, and also binds a number of cytoplasmic red cell proteins. Variant forms of band 3 are known and some of these have an effect on red cell function and viability. The glycophorins comprise three major proteins, glycophorin A (GPA), glycophorin B (GPB) and glycophorin C (GPC). GPA and GPB (together with another putative gene product, GPE) are closely related products of highly homologous genes located in tandem on the human chromosome. The similarity between the genes gives rise to a number of genetic variants as a result of unequal crossover events. The gene products are erythroid specific. The function of the proteins is not clearly established, but GPA appears to have a role in facilitating the movement of band 3 to the cell surface during the biosynthesis of the latter. The GPC gene is not related to the GPA, GPB and GPE gene family. This gene gives rise to GPC and a form of GPC which is truncated at the N-terminus and is designated GPD. GPC functions in anchoring the red cell skeleton to the membrane, and absence of the protein is associated with red cell abnormalities. GPC transcripts are found in many other tissues, where they probably also have a role in cytoskeletal interactions. The red cell glucose transporter (GLUT1) is a member of the gene family of passive glucose transporters. GLUT1 is not erythroid specific but is also present in several other tissues.

Molecular biology of the anion exchanger gene family

The gene family of anion exchangers consists of at least four or five members, of which three have been characterized at the cDNA level. AE1-3 encode polypeptides that share significant homology with the erythrocyte anion exchanger, band 3 (AE1). Expression of cDNAs encoding these genes in heterologous systems confirms that this sequence similarity is reflected in the capacity to mediate reversible Cl/HCO3 exchange. While the NH2-terminal domain of band 3 is known to interact with several cytoplasmic proteins in erythrocytes, the function of the analogous domains of AE2 and AE3 remains unknown. The AE1 gene is expressed coordinately with other erythroid genes during erythropoiesis in both avian and mammalian erythroid progenitor cells. In addition, AE1 is expressed at the basolateral plasma membrane of the acid-secreting intercalated cells of the kidney. AE2 is expressed in a number of epithelial and nonepithelial cells; it may be expressed in the Golgi apparatus of some of these cells. AE3 is expressed in excitable tissues, including neurons and muscle. It is likely that these proteins play a role in regulation of intracellular pH and chloride in their respective tissue. Understanding of the physiological roles of these proteins, both for ion transport and for plasma membrane organization, remains a central issue.