Basic biochemistry of cell surface carbohydrates and aspects of the tissue distribution of histo-blood group ABH and related glycosphingolipids.

Cell surface carbohydrates may be protein- or lipid-linked. The structural polymorphism of the oligosaccharide chains is extensive due to variations in monosaccharide composition, carbohydrate sequence, branching, linkage position and linkage anomericity. Blood group ABH and related glycosphingolipids show a remarkable tissue-specific expression with possible implications in areas such as transfusion medicine, transplantation surgery and oncology. This communication gives a condensed description of the present knowledge of the tissue-specific distribution of histo-blood glycolipids in humans.