Affinity purification of antibodies specific for Asn-linked glycans containing alpha 1-->3 fucose or beta 1-->2 xylose.

Antisera raised against the plant glycoproteins beta-fructosidase and horseradish peroxidase can be fractionated on an affinity column of honeybee venom phospholipase A2 to produce serum fractions that are specific for either the alpha 1-->3 fucose or beta 1-->2 xylose epitopes commonly found on the Asn-linked glycans of plant glycoproteins. This affinity purification strategy relies on the absence of beta 1-->2 xylose from the glycan of the venom protein. Such antibody preparations can be used for the detection of these sugar epitopes on glycoproteins.