
Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Yt antigen system
Introduction
The Yt antigen system (also known as Cartwright) is present on the membrane of red blood cells and helps determine a person’s blood type. The antigens are found on the protein acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme which helps break down acetylcholine.[1] The Yt system features two alleles, Yt(a) and Yt(b). Antibodies against the Yt system can lead to transfusion reactions such as hemolytic anemia.
References
References
Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) 112100 – OMIM page on Yt antigen
- ↑ Bartels CF, Zelinski T, Lockridge O. Mutation at codon 322 in the human acetylcholinesterase (ACHE) gene accounts for YT blood group polymorphism. Am J Hum Genet. 1993 May;52(5):928-36. PMID 8488842
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
