Immunochemical studies on blood group A substance from human hair.

Blood group A-active substance was extracted from urea-treated human hair uith methanol-ethyl ether 1:1, v/v) or chloroform-methanol (1:1, v/v). The serological activity of blood group A substance in the hair was destroyed by A-decomposing enzyme from Clostridium tertium with concomitant development of blood group H activity. It is concluded therefore that the extract from the hair of group A contained blood group A-active glycolipid with N-acetylgalactosamine as the non-reducing sugar.