H blood group detection by the L-fucose binding lectin of the green marine alga Ulva lactuca

Nechama Gilboa-Garber, Rachel Citronbaum, Cyril Levene, Ruth Sela

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8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Extracts of the green marine alga Ulva lactuca collected along the seashore of Tel-Aviv exhibit hemagglutinating activity towards papain-treated human erythrocytes. This hemagglutinating activity was shown to be inhibited by L-fucose and EDTA, and to be relatively resistant to heating at 60°C, while sensitive to low pH. Like the lectin of Ulex europeus, the Ulva lectin exhibits blood group H specificity. It agglutinates most strongly erythrocytes of blood group 0(H) followed by B > A > AB. A2 and A2B erythrocytes are agglutinated by it considerably more strongly than A1 and A1B respectively. Bombay 0(hh) type erythrocytes are almost non-reactive. The lectin can be stored at -20°C for years.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)695-705
Number of pages11
JournalDevelopmental and Comparative Immunology
Volume12
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1988

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This research was supported by a grant from Bar-Ilan University research authorities. The authors thank Mrs. D. Radin for the skilful printing of the manuscript.

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