Use of synthetic H disaccharides as acceptors for detecting activities of UDP-GalNAc:Fucα1→2Galβ-R α1→3-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase in plasma samples from blood group A subgroups

Concentrations of Wood group A-specified α(1→3)-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase (A enzyme) were measured in human plasma of Wood groups A₁ A₂, and A₃ by using chemically synthesized H disaccharides and H type 1 and type 2 trisaccharides attached to hydrophobic aglycones as acceptors. When the trisaccharides were used as acceptors, enzyme activities were reduced in samples from A₂ and A₃. However, the H disaccharides were shown to be good acceptors even for enzymes from A₂, and A₃, and no significant difference in enzyme concentration was detected in any of the plasma tested.