Biochemical Characterisation of A Blood Group Activity on Human Platelets

Abstract
A butanol extraction procedure was used to isolate the blood group A antigen determinants from platelet membranes and to determine their biochemical structure, glycolipid and/or glycoprotein. The blood group A serological activity resided entirely in the butanol (organic) fraction. When this fraction was analyzed by TLC, the A-inhibitory activity comigrated with extracts of erythrocyte type Aa, Ab and Ac variant structures. The ABO blood group A determinants on human platelets are glycolipid, similar in structure to glycolipid A determinants on erythrocytes.