Universal blood : the life stream all four one and one for all : an enzymatic methodology creating a universal blood supply

α-NAGA (α-N-acetylgalactosaminidase) is an exoglycosidase that cleaves a specific carbohydrate, terminal linked 1-3 α-N-acetylgalactosamine, from the A antigen. The enzymatic hydrolysis creates the H antigen. This modification transforms the immune response to the blood group from Type A to O. The product of the enzyme treatment produces Type O blood a universally transfusable product for potential medical use. Purified recombinant α-NAGAs from E. coli and S. linguale were characterized in vitro for molecular mass, substrate specificity, pH and temperature optima, and product inhibition. A mutant of the S. linguale α-NAGA, H225A, was evaluated for activity in vitro and in vivo. S. linguale enzyme was characterized in vivo using Type A1 and A2 RBCs for pH, temperature, and buffer optima. In vitro each enzyme appeared to function as a dimer under the conditions tested, was highly active at a neutral pH, and over a range of temperatures. Turnover rate, kcat, 33 s -1 (E. coli) and 173 s (S. linguale) were derived from the kinetic assays. Product competitive inhibition, Ki 0.18 mM, was evident with the S. linguale α-NAGA while the E. coli α-NAGA demonstrated uncompetitive inhibition, Ki 2.6 mM. The E. coli α-NAGA did not appear to covert Type A RBCs. S. linguale αNAGA appeared to convert Type A RBCs to blood group O with efficiency in glycine or