CHANGES OF LEWIS BLOOD GROUP SUBSTANCE INDUCED BY ENZYMES

Abstract

1. A crude enzyme preparation from Bac. fulminans or from Bac. cereus O(H) contained O(H) -and Le^b-decomposing enzymes, and when applied on an O(H), Le (a±b+) substsnce, destroyed O(H) and Le^b activity together with enhancing Le^a activity. But when applied on an O(H), Le (a±b-) substance, it only destroyed O(H) activity without enhancing Le^a activity, However, when the O(H), Le (a±b+) substance was incubated with purified preparation from Bac. fulminans, which contained only the O(H) -decomposing enzyme, abolishment of O(H) activity alone was observed, but not enhancement of Le^a activity. These results seem to indicate that from a precursor substance are individually developed O(H) and Le^a substance, and on the basis of Le^a subsfance is formed Le^b substance.
However, when the crude enzyme preparation from Bac. fulminans or from Bac. cereus O(H) was applied on OLe (a-b+) red cells, it was difficult to recognize appearance of Le^a activity, though O(H) and Le^b activity were abolished.
2. When the A-decomposing enzyme from Cl. tertium and the B decomposing enzyme from Cl. maebashi were applied on A and B substance or red cells with Le^bactivity respectively, slight increase in Le^b activity was observed together with enhancement of O(H) activity, When AB substance or AB red cells were incubated with both the A- and B-decomposing enzymes, these were transformed into a substance or red cells having O(H) activity nearly to the same degree as that of O(H) substance or O red cells.