Progress in the study of ABO blood group system.

ABSTRACT

Progress in the study of ABO blood group system during the last three decades was reviewed according to following 5 items. 1. Structure of H-, A- and B-active saccharides isolated from the globoside fractions from human erythrocytes. 2. Enzyme characterization of a blood group A-gene specified alpha-N-acetyl-galactosaminyltransferase (A-enzyme), and a blood group B-gene specified alpha-galactosyltransferase (B-enzyme). 3. Immunological properties of the A- and B-enzyme. 4. The cDNA structures of human blood group ABO genes. 5. Transcriptional regulation of the human blood group ABO genes.