Separation of blood group A-active oligosaccharides by high-pressure liquid affinity chromatography using a monoclonal antibody bound to concanavalin A silica.

A column for high-pressure liquid affinity chromatography is prepared by binding a murine monoclonal anti-blood group A antibody of IgM isotype to concanavalin A-coated silica particles. The column specifically retards blood group A-active oligosaccharides with the nonreducing immunodominant trisaccharide sequence, GalNAc alpha 1-3(Fuc alpha 1-2)Gal beta 1- ..., and separates three A-active oligosaccharides with different core structures. Retention of the oligosaccharides on the column diminishes with increasing temperatures, permitting thermal elution in the range 25-50 degrees C.