The α‐Galactose Specificity of Anti‐Pk

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Abstract
These studies indicate that α‐galactose is the terminal and immunodominant sugar of the Pk determinant. Human anti‐Pk and the ‘anti‐Pk’ activity of salmon and trout protectins are strongly inhibited by α‐galactosyl groups of galactose, disaccharides and macromolecules, e.g. P1 substance. Removal of a‐galactose from P1 substance abolishes its ability to inhibit anti‐Pk antibody activity.Anti‐Pk antibody has a narrow spectrum for terminal a‐galactosyl groups of cell surface antigens defining those of Pk but not those of B, P1 or P2 cells, while all these cells are agglutinated by the fish roe protectins. We suggest that anti‐Pk antibody selects a larger determinant than the terminal α‐galactosyl group and the full determinant is structurally different from those of B, P1 and P2 antigens. By contrast, fish roe agglutinins bind to a part only of the α‐galactosyl group, present in all these antigens.