Blood group like substances in some marine invertebrates—V. Different forms of the blood group a like substances: Glycoprotein and polysaccharide type

Abstract

1. 1. Using heterophile anti-A from snails, several forms of blood group A like substances in invertebrates can be detected, which differ significantly in their chemical composition and in their serological behaviour. 2. 2. “True” blood group A like glycoproteins have been isolated and analysed from Loligo vulgaris, Octopus vulgaris and can also be found in Tubifex rivulorum. Its detection by several serological methods is described. 3. 3. Glucose containing blood group A like polysaccharides, cross-reacting with anti-A like agglutinins from snails, can be found in T. rivulorum (Annelidae) and Phoronis australis (Tentaculata). 4. 4. A new polysaccharide from P. australis, designated as phoronoglucan, could be investigated more thoroughly with respect to its immunochemical properties. 5. 5. The anti-dextran specificity of the agglutinin and precipitin from Helix pomatia has been confirmed in this connection. 6. 6. This anti-dextran specificity could also be detected in several other extracts from snail albumin gland ( Helix aspersa/Spanish origin, Helix lucorum, Caucasotachea atrolabiata and Cepaea hortensis).