CD235a antibodies are used to identify erythroid cells during hematopoietic differentiation. CD235a is not expressed on lymphoid or granulocytic progenitor cells and therefore is very useful as a marker for detection of the erythroid cell lineage [1,2]. CD235a seems to be absent from erythroid colony forming cells in bone marrow, but is present during maturation from pro-erythroid blast cells to mature erythrocytes. CD235a is clinically important in the classification of leukemias. Using Anti-CD235a antibodies, a distinction can be made between erythroleukemia and other (acute) leukemias like e.g. myeloid, lymphoid or undifferentiated leukemias [3,4]. Anti-CD235a is often used in combination with detection of H-antigen and/or anti-CD36 antibodies for additional characterization of early erythroid cells. Additional immunophenotyping of early erythroleukemias can be performed by detecting myeloid-associated antigens such as CD13, CD14, CD15, CD33 and CD34, to discriminate from lymphoid lineage-associated antigens like CD2, CD7, CD10 and CD19 [6].

GpA is the carrier of blood group M and N specificities, which provides the cells with a large mucin-like surface and it has been suggested this provides a barrier to cell fusion, so minimizing aggregation between red blood cells in the circulation. Another function for CD235a that has been proposed is as a membrane inhibitor of reactive lysis. CD235a Mab directed to papain-sensitive epitopes located in the extracelluar specific domain of GpA, agglutinating papain-treated cells. GpA is expressed on early erythroblasts, late erythroblasts, erythroblasts, mature erythrocytes and the cells of erythroid cell lines K562 and HEL, but not on all other cells. Mature erythrocytes are CD235a positive and CD45 and CD71 all negative.

Suitable for use in Flow Cytometry. Other applications not tested.

Flow Cytometry: Neat Optimal working dilutions to be determined by researcher.

Spleen cells from immunized DA rats were fused with cells of the Y3/Ag.1.2.3.

FITC: Protein (molar ratio): 6.7: 1

Recommended Negative Controls: Rat IgG2b Negative Control: FITC

Store product at 4°C if to be used immediately within two weeks. For long-term storage, aliquot to avoid repeated freezing and thawing and store at -20°C. Aliquots are stable at -20°C for 12 months after receipt. Dilute required amount only prior to immediate use. Further dilutions can be made in assay buffer. Caution: FITC conjugates are sensitive to light. For maximum recovery of product, centrifuge the original vial after thawing and prior to removing the cap.

Supplied as a liquid in PBS, 1% BSA, 0.09% sodium azide. Labeled with Fluorescein Isothiocyanate Isomer 1 (FITC).

Purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation.

Recognizes glycophorin A, a major sialoglycoprotein of the human erythrocyte membrane.