(06-15-2015, 09:29 PM)Kanny Wrote: Do different Blood Groups have a different protein make - up?
i.e. the protein profile of each blood group would be different?
Hi Kanny,
The answer to your question is "NO" (if we are talking about ABO blood groups).
The answer to your question is "YES" (if we are talking about Rh (+ and - ) groups).
The RBC membrane of a person's blood cells contains millions of antigens that are ignored by the immune system. These antigens can either be:
(a) Proteins or (b) Sugars. It's the presence/absence of different types of antigens that decides the "Blood Group(s)".
Now, given the fact that,
ABO blood groups are decided by "Sugar" antigens, the ABO groups are thus expected to have identical protein make-up.
On the other hand, Rh blood groups (i.e Rh negative or Rh positive) are decided by the presence or absence of "D
antigen", which is a protein, and hence Rh blood groups aren't expected to have identical protein make-up.
Hope it helps
Best wishes
Sunil