Action of alpha-galactosidase from Clostridium sporogenes and coffee beans on blood group B antigen of erythrocytes. The effect on the viability of erythrocytes in circulation.

The effect of alpha-galactosidase, purified from Clostridium sporogenes (Maebashi), was examined on erythrocytes from rats, rabbits and gibbons. The amount of galactose released by alpha-galactosidase from Cl. sporogenes and from coffee beans was compared. The amount of sialic acid released by Vibrio cholera sialidase was also determined. Loss of blood group B specificity following treatment with alpha-galactosidase was demonstrated with anti-B lectin. In animal models, removal of all the alpha-galactosyl residues with the coffee bean or clostridial alpha-galactosidase resulted in no change in the sequestration pattern of the treated erythrocytes over a period of several days. In contrast, erythrocytes treated with sialidase were rapidly sequestered from the circulation.