Tadahisa Kogure

On the Specificity of Mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus and Pleurotus spodoleucus Extracts

Abstract. Extracts of mushrooms Pleurotus ostreatus and Pleurotus spodoleucus contain hemagglutinins with anti‐H specificity similar to those found in Cytisus sessilifolius and Laburnum alpinum.

The Action of Group Bm or CisAB Sera on Group O Red Cells in the Presence of UDP-D-Galactose

Abstract. Group B and AB sera, acting on O red cells in the presence of UDP‐galactose, each converted them into B active cells, which were agglutinated by anti‐B human serum (1:512) at the titer of 128‐fold, while group Bm and A1 Bm sera, converted O red cells similarly incubated into B active cells, which were agglutinated by anti‐B human serum (1:512) at the titer of 8‐ to 16‐fold. This indicates that α‐galactosyltransferase activity in Bm and A1 Bm sera may be about ⅛‐⅙ that in B and AB sera. Group CisAB sera, even after absorption of cold anti‐B agglutinins with packed, washed group B red cells, did not convert O red cells in the presence of UDP‐galactose in such a way that they might agglutinate against anti‐B human serum.

Purification and characterization of N-acetyl-D-galactosamine-binding lectin from Falcata japonica

An N-acetyl-D-galactosamine-binding lectin from Falcata japonica seeds was purified by affinity column chromatography of N-acetyl-D-galactosamine coupled to epoxy-activated Sepharose 6B. A 1000-fold purification of lectin was obtained from the crude extracts. The purified lectin agglutinated blood group A red cells, but neither blood group B nor O red cells. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the lectin showed one diffuse band. Molecular weights of 125,000 and 117,000 were estimated by gel filtration and ultracentrifugal analysis, respectively. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the lectin also showed a single band which has a molecular weight of 34,000. Therefore, the lectin molecule was estimated to be a tetramer composed of four identical non-covalently bound subunits. F. japonica lectin was a glycoprotein containing 5% total carbohydrate, and the amino acid composition was characterized by a high content of aspartic acid, serine and glycine, a low content of methionine and the absence of cysteine.

DETECTION AND ACTIVITY OF BLOOD GROUP B GENE‐ASSOCIATED α‐GALACTOSYLTRANSFERASE IN HUMAN URINE

α‐Galactosyltransferase which participates in the biosynthesis of blood group B substance was found in urine from group B and AB healthy persons of both secretors and non‐secretors.