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Research: Science and Education
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Concepts in Biochemistry
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Glycosyltransferases A and B: Four Critical Amino Acids Determine Blood Type
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Natisha L. Rose and Monica M. Palcic
Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G
2G2, Canada
Stephen V. Evans
Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria,
British Columbia V8W 3P6, Canada
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December 2005
Vol. 82 No. 12
p. 1846
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| Abstract |
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Human A, B, and O blood type is determined by the presence or absence of distinct carbohydrate structures on red blood cells. Type O individuals have α-fucose(1→2)galactose disaccharides [O(H) structures] on their cell surfaces while in type A or B individuals, the O antigen is capped by the addition of an α- N-acetylgalactosamine or α-galactose residue, respectively. The addition of these monosaccharides is catalyzed by glycosyltransferase A (GTA) or glycosyltransferase B (GTB). These are homologous enzymes differing by only 4 amino acids out of 354 that change the specificity from GTA to GTB. In this review the chemistry of the blood group ABO system and the role of GTA, GTB, and the four critical amino acids in determining blood group status are discussed.
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| More Information |
 Citation |
Rose, Natisha L.; Palcic, Monica M.; Evans, Stephen V. J. Chem. Educ. 2005 82 1846.
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Keywords |
Biochemistry; Bioorganic Chemistry; Carbohydrates; Crystals / Crystallography; Enzymes; Kinetics; Molecular Biology; Second-Year Undergraduate; Textbooks / Reference Books; Upper-Division Undergraduate; X-ray Crystallography
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History |
Created:
Last Updated: |
October 25, 2005
November 4, 2005
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| Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues >
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1846
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