Structural concepts of the human blood group A, B, H, Le(a), Le(b), I and i active glycoproteins purified from human ovarian cyst fluid.

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Regardless of the A, B, H, Le(a), Le(b), I and i activity, purified water-soluble blood group glycoproteins from human ovarian cyst fluid have a similar overall structure. They are polydisperse macromolecules (Mr 2.0 x 10(5) to several million) of similar composition (75 to 85% carbohydrate, 15 to 20% protein) and consist of multiple heterosaccharide side chains attached by an O-glycosidic linkage at their internal reducing ends to serine or threonine of the polypeptide backbone. About 90% of these carbohydrate side chains range in size from one to less than twenty-four sugar residues (twelve sugars in the internal structure and twelve key sugars specific as blood group determinants). Three-fourths of these side chains contain fewer than twelve sugars. A generalized blood group active carbohydrate chain is shown above. Three disaccharide units-Type I chain (Gal beta 1----3GlcNAc beta 1----3), Type II chain (Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----6) and T determinant [Gal beta 1----3GalNAc alpha 1----Ser(Thr)]-are used to elucidate the internal structure of the carbohydrate chains. The complete internal structure is considered to have a core structure with four branches, to which the blood group key sugars are attached at the appropriate locations. The core structure is a tetrasaccharide, composed of one unit of Type I chain at the nonreducing end and the T determinant at the other end, linked to Ser or Thr of the protein moiety. Branch I is Type I chain and Branch II is Type II chain. They are linked to Gal at the nonreducing end of the core structure. Branch III is usually a Type II chain, but may sometimes be a Type I chain, linked to the GalNAc of the reducing end. The length of Branch III can be increased by adding one or more monosaccharides of Type I chain sequence such as Gal beta 1----3GlcNAc beta 1----3Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----6GalNAc alpha 1----Ser(Thr), a combination of Type I and Type II chains. A new Branch IV is made up of Type II chain, which in turn is linked to the Gal end of the T determinant. The Type II chains react with the antibody to the type XIV pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide and with the anti-I(Ma) cold agglutinin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)