IgG and IgM antibodies against several sugars have been characterized in sera of
normal donors by passive hemagglutination and a quantitative hemagglutination inhibition
test. These antibodies distinguish between the equatorial and axial OH groups at C2, C3, or
C4 positions of the glycopyranose configuration, differences between the anomers, linkage
types, changes in the primary alcohol group at C6, and OH substitution. In the examples of
antibodies to mannose, galactose, and glucose investigated, specificities were usually
directed against the β-anomers. In disaccharides, the antibodies appeared to react only with 1
of the 2 sugar subunits, but unlike monosaccharides, the glycosidic linkages also seemed to
be a part of the reaction site. Thus, the reacting moiety in gentiobiose was β-D-glucopyranosyl
with 1→6 linkage, in cellobiose was β-D-glucopyranosyl with 1→4 linkage, in melibiose
was α-D-galactopyranosyl with 1→6 linkage, and in lactose the reaction was directed
against β-D-galactopyranosyl with 1→4 linkage. In the maltose-dependent hemagglutination,
α-D-glucose appeared to be the main reaction site. ManNAc exemplified the specificity
determined by OH group substitution. Antibody to D-Fucose represented example of
specificity evolving from substitution of the primary alcohol.