This paper describes the association of the low-frequency antigen Lsa with high-molecular-weight variants of β- and γ-sialoglycoproteins (β-SGP, γ-SGP). The variant β-SGP, designated β^Ls^a, carries the Ge^3 epitope and the epitopes recognised by 3 murine monoclonal anti-β-SGP antibodies. The variant γ-SGP, designated γ^Ls^a, carries the Ge^2 and Ge^3 epitopes. Both β^Ls^a and y^Ls^a showed enhanced reactions in immunoblotting with anti-Ge3 sera - which may indicate the presence of 2 Ge3 epitopes on β^Ls^a and γ^Ls^a These findings would be consistent with the proposed structure of the Ls^a glycophorin C gene.

This paper presents the results of a study on the erythrocyte membrane proteins from Webb-positive individuals. The membrane proteins were separated by polyacrylamide electrophoresis and stained using a Silver stain as well as Coomassie blue and PAS stains. All Webb-positive individuals exhibited a decrease in the beta-sialoglycoprotein beta SGP band along with the appearance of a new SGP 3,000 daltons less than beta SGP. It is postulated that this band is an abnormal beta SGP possibly lacking the N-linked oligosaccharide that is normally present in beta-SGP.

Previous studies found that MZ twin pairs who are blood group NN have greater intrapair variability in plasma lipid levels than those who are MM or MN. This led to the prediction that the response of plasma lipid levels to a low fat diet would depend on MN blood group, the greatest response being in those who are NN. The present study was based upon 254 patients who took part in the Australian Polyp Prevention Project. This was a 2 × 2 × 2 randomised factorial design based upon the presence or absence of the three factors: a dietary fibre supplement, a beta‐carotene supplement and reduced intake of dietary fat. The lowering of plasma, low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, in response to a low fat diet was greatest in those who were NN and least in MN heterozygotes. Overall, a reduction in LDL level was observed in the 47% of the APPP population who were on a low fat diet and who were homozygous MM or NN. The result was consistent with a balanced polymorphism at or near the GLYA locus on chromosome 4 that influences the sensitivity of plasma lipid levels to dietary fluctuations in fat intake.

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