Man, apes and Old World monkeys differ from other mammals in the expression of a-galactosyl epitopes (Galili et al (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263: 17755). All human sera contain a large amount of naturally occurring antibody (anti-Gal) which binds to oligosaccharides terminating in the disaccharide Gala1-3Gal (Galili et al (1985) J. Exp. Med. 162: 573). These antigens (termed Galili antigens) are established as major xenoantigens on pig endothelium and are thus responsible for initiating the hyperacute rejection of pig organs by Old World primates and humans. In the future development of xenotransplantation, these compounds are of primary significance.

It is thought that the full structure to which human anti-pig antibodies bind is the pentasacchardie Gala1-3Galb1-4GlcNAcb1-3Galb1-4Glc.

We have manufactured a series of oligosaccharides terminating in Gala1-3Gal including the pentasacchardie and linear B-6 (Lee at al (1998) Transplantation 66(8): in print) to facilitate the study of hyperacute rejection. We also make an extensive series of glycoconjugates in which oliosaccharides are linked to protiens and lipids.