Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2008 Feb;1780(2):75-88.
doi: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2007.11.003. Epub 2007 Nov 22.

The Galalpha1,3Galbeta1,4GlcNAc-R (alpha-Gal) epitope: a carbohydrate of unique evolution and clinical relevance

Bruce A Macher  1 , Uri Galili
Affiliations
Review

The Galalpha1,3Galbeta1,4GlcNAc-R (alpha-Gal) epitope: a carbohydrate of unique evolution and clinical relevance

Bruce A Macher et al. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2008 Feb.

Abstract

In 1985, we reported that a naturally occurring human antibody (anti-Gal), produced as the most abundant antibody (1% of immunoglobulins) throughout the life of all individuals, recognizes a carbohydrate epitope Galalpha1-3Galbeta1-4GlcNAc-R (the alpha-gal epitope). Since that time, an extensive literature has developed on discoveries related to the alpha-gal epitope and the anti-Gal antibody, including the barrier they form in xenotransplantation and their reciprocity in mammalian evolution. This review covers these topics and new avenues of clinical importance related to this unique antigen/antibody system (alpha-gal epitope/anti-Gal) in improving the efficacy of viral vaccines and in immunotherapy against cancer.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Eto T, Ichikawa Y, Nishimura K, Ando S, Yamakawa T. Chemistry of lipid of the posthemolytic residue or stroma of erythrocytes: XVI. Occurrence of ceramide pentasaccharide in the membrane of erythocytes and reticulocytes of rabbit. J Biochem (Tokyo) 1968;64:205–213. - PubMed
    1. Stellner K, Saito H, Hakomori SI. Determination of aminosugar linkages in glycolipids by methylation. Aminosugar linkages of ceramide pentasaccharides of rabbit erythrocytes and of Forssman antigen. Arch Biochem Biophys. 1973;155:464–472. - PubMed
    1. Hanfland P, Kordowicz M, Peter-Katalinic J, Egge H, Dabrowski J, Dabrowski U. Structure elucidation of blood group B-like and I-active ceramide eicosa- and pentacosasaccharides from rabbit erythrocyte membranes by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry; electron-impact and fast-atom-bombardment mass spectrometry; and two-dimensional correlated, relayed-coherence transfer, and nuclear Overhauser effect 500-MHz 1H-n.m.r. spectroscopy. Carbohydr Res. 1988;178:1–21. - PubMed
    1. Dabrowski U, Hanfland P, Egge H, Kuhn S, Dabrowski J. Immunochemistry of I/i-active oligo- and polyglycosylceramides from rabbit erythrocyte membranes. Determination of branching patterns of a ceramide pentadecasaccharide by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance. J Biol Chem. 1984;259:7648–7651. - PubMed
    1. Egge H, Kordowicz M, Peter-Katalinic J, Hanfland P. Immunochemistry of I/i-active oligo- and polyglycosylceramides from rabbit erythrocyte membranes. Characterization of linear, di-, and triantennary neolactoglycosphingolipids. J Biol Chem. 1985;260:4927–4935. - PubMed

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources