THE ACTIVITY OF A BLOOD-TYPE-B SPECIFIC EXOGLYCOSIDASE FROM GLYCINE-MAX

Soluble antigens, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), and cell suspension assays were used to study the blood group B activity of Gl ycine max (soybean) alpha-D-galactosidase. The enzyme readily hydrolyz ed the terminal alpha-D-galactosyl of the B antigen under a variety of conditions, converting it to H antigen. Conversion of the B antigen t o H antigen produces blood type O which is universally transfusable. T hese preliminary studies are important in determining optimal conditio ns fbr enzymatic conversion of blood type B to O erythrocytes if effic ient large-scale production of enzymatically converted, universally tr ansfusable red blood cells is to be achieved.