GYPA [SEP] found in taxon
Glycophorin A
Glycophorin A (MNS blood group), also known as GYPA, is a protein which in humans is encoded by the "GYPA" gene. GYPA has also recently been designated CD235a (cluster of differentiation 235a).
Function.
Glycophorins A (GYPA; this protein) and B (GYPB) are major sialoglycoproteins of the human erythrocyte membrane which bear the antigenic determinants for the MN and Ss blood groups. In addition to the M or N and S or s antigens, that commonly occur in
acids. The exon at this point encodes the transmembrane domain. Within the intron downstream of this pint is an "Alu" repeat. The cross over event which created the genes ancestral to
GypA and GypB/E occurred within this region.
GypA can be found in all primates. GypB can be found only in gorillas and some of the higher primates suggesting that the duplication events occurred only recently.
Molecular biology.
There are about one million copies of this protein per erythrocyte. [Reference needed]