The gene encoding the I blood group antigen: review of an I for an eye

Unlike most blood group antigen pairs, the I and i antigens are not antithetical (produced by allelic pairs) but, rather, they are reciprocal. The I antigen is formed by the action of an enzyme (a glycosyltransferase), which adds branches onto the i antigen. Thus, branched I antigen is formed at the expense of its precursor, the linear i antigen. The antigens are present on all blood cells and have a wide tissue distribution. Soluble I antigen is found in milk, saliva, and amniotic fluid, and a small amount is in plasma. The function of these antigens is unknown but the I antigen has a decreased expression and the i antigen has a concomitant increased expression in conditions that result in increased hematopoiesis. The gene encoding the branching transferase has been cloned and sequenced, and the mechanism underlying the i adult phenotype with and without association with cataracts has been elucidated. Immunohematology 2004;20:249–252.