Chem 128L TuePM
February 23rd, 2016
CROSSLINKING RED BLOOD CELLS WITH ISOLATED LECTIN PROTEINS
Eukaryotic cells are coated with carbohydrates called glycans. They are responsible for
cell interaction with other cells, bacteria, viruses, toxins, or hormones. The information inside
the cells and cell’s identity are established by the interaction between glycans and cells. Glycans
are also found on human red blood cells (RBCs). Different types of glycans give rise to three
groups of human blood, and antibodies in human body can be used to recognize one type of
blood from another based on glycosides. When wrong type of blood is transferred from one
person to another, two binding sites of antibodies bind to foreign epitopes and form crosslink, or
agglutination. This process results in blood clot and leads sudden death of living species.
