Description: The monoclonal antibody 8A2N recognizes human glycophorin A (also known as CD235a). The antibody reacts with the N allele. Glycophorin A is a 151 amino acid sialogylcoprotein found on the erythrocyte (RBC) and erthyroid progenitor cell membrane. The gene for glycophorin resides on chromosome 4 and has 2 allelic forms: M and N, which differby two amino acids. The M group posseses Ser1 and Gly5 while the N group has Leu1 and Glu5. Recent data suggest that exposure to toxins can cause mutation or loss of an allele resulting in phenotypic changes. Studies are also beginning to correlate phenotype with predisposition to cancer and heart disease.