Characterization of a new variant of human red cell carbonic anhydrase I, CA if London (Glu-102→Lys)

Abstract

A new inherited variant of red cell carbonic anhydrase I (CA I), designated CA If London, was discovered during a survey of 1615 individuals from London, England. No electrophoretic variants of the other isozyme of carbonic anhydrase CA II, were observed in the same survey. Sequence analysis of a lysine-blocked tryptic peptide believed to contain the amino acid substitution in CA If showed that the glutamyl residue at position 102 had been substituted by a lysyl residue. This substitution results in a net increase of two positive charges in the mutant enzyme. Densitometric scanning of the electrophoretically separated forms in the variant hemolysate indicates that the levels of the normal and variant enzymes are approximately equal.