We describe a new variant of Bernard-Soulier syndrome. The patient (W.K.) showed the classic bleeding symptoms together with absence of platelet agglutination to restocetin plus von Willebrand factor, whereas aggregation to ADP, collagen, and arachidonic acid was normal. Platelets were markedly larger than normal and the patient had life-long thrombocytopenia. Surface-labeling of the platelets and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis showed reduced but detectable amounts of glycoprotein (GP) Ib-IX-V present;however, there was markedly less GPIX (2% +/- 1% of normal) than GPIb alpha, Ib beta, or V (7% +/- 2% of normal). This disproportion was confirmed by Western blotting. Sequence analysis was performed after polymerase chain reaction amplification of the coding region of the GPIX and GPI b alpha genes from the patient. A point mutation (A-->G) was found in GPIX converting 45Asn to Ser within the leucine-rich domain. No mutations were found in GPIb alpha. Both alleles of GPIX contained the same defect, which was confirmed by the appearance of a new cleavage site for the restriction enzyme Fnu4HI. This substitution did not affect glycosylation at the neighboring 44Asn as judged by the distribution on two-dimensional gels but did appear to change the conformation of the leucine-rich domain, thus reducing surface expression of the complex. The relationship between GPIb and GPV was not affected, indicating that GPIX does not regulate this. This homozygous mutation in GPIX indicates that, among other possible functions, the leucine-rich domains present on all components of GPIb-IX-V may play a role in the assembly and surface expression of the complex.