OBJECTIVETo study the serological characteristics and molecular mechanism for a rare Pk phenotype of the P1Pk blood group system.

METHODSThe blood group of the proband was identified by serological techniques. The coding region and flanking intronic sequences of the β-1,3-N-acetylgalactosyltransferase gene (B3GALANT1) associated with the Pk phenotype were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction sequence-based typing.

RESULTSThe proband was identified as having a rare Pk phenotype including anti-P in her serum. The blood group of her daughter and husband showed a P2 phenotype. The nucleotide sequences of the B3GALANT1 gene of her husband and two randomly-chosen individuals were the same as the reference sequence (GenBank AB050855). Nucleotide position 433 C>T homozygous mutation in the B3GALANT1 was found in the proband, which has resulted in a stop codon at amino acid position 145, which may produce a premature protein capable of decreasing or inhibiting the activity of the β -1,3-N-acetylgalactosyltransferase. The nucleotide position 433 C/T heterozygous in the B3GALANT1 was found in her daughter.

CONCLUSIONThe Pk phenotype resulted from 433 C>T mutation in the B3GALANT1 gene has been identified.