Question

I need help with cellular biology


Mixing blood with ConA or mixing different types of blood can lead to Hemagglutination of red blood cells. Explain the similarity and difference between the two.

I couldn't answer this question in a logical way, any help would be appreciated.

Thank you.

Answer 1

ConA is a lectin and binds to glycoproteins - proteins decorated with sugars. These come in contact with red blood cells bind to a few and precipitate out of solution.

Mixing different types of blood will have a similar effect but the binding is done by antibodies against specific glycoproteins. For example, you could mix O type blood into A blood but not A into B because of the antibodies present.