Blood-group-Ii-active gangliosides of human erythrocyte membranes.

More than ten new types of gangliosides, in addition to haematoside and sialosylparagloboside, were isolated from human erythrocyte membranes. These were separated by successive chromatographies on DEAE-Sephadex, on porous silica-gel columns and on thin-layer silica gel as acetylated compounds. Highly potent blood-group-Ii and moderate blood-group-H activities were demonstrated in some of the ganglioside fractions. The gangliosides incorporated into cholesterol/phosphatidylcholine liposomes stoicheiometrically inhibited binding of anti-(blood-group I and i) antibodies to a radioiodinated blood-group-Ii-active glycoprotein. The fraction with the highest blood-group-I-activity, I(g) fraction, behaved like sialosyl-deca- to -dodeca-glycosylceramides on t.l.c. Certain blood-group-I and most of the -i determinants were in partially or completely cryptic form and could be unmasked by sialidase treatment. Thus the I and i antigens, which are known to occur on internal structures of blood-group-ABH-active glycoproteins in secretions, also occur in the interior of the carbohydrate chains of erythrocyte gangliosides.