Project Details
Projekt
ABO Blood Type Antigens and the Hemostatic System
Applicant
Dr. Prisca Hamm
Subject Area
Hematology, Oncology
Biochemistry
Biochemistry
Term
since 2025
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 562449966
An association between ABO blood type and the risk for bleeding or clotting has been frequently reported: individuals with blood type O have an increased risk for bleeding, while individuals with other blood types (A, B and AB) have an increased risk for thrombosis. The underlying reasons for this are not yet completely understood. The ABO blood groups are defined by carbohydrate antigen structures, which can occur as terminal part of carbohydrate chains called glycans. This project focuses on understanding how ABO blood group antigens (A, B, and H) present on hemostatic platelet and plasma proteins impact their function in hemostasis. Preliminary data suggest that there are more platelet and plasma glycoproteins carrying ABO antigens than previously identified. The project aims to identify, validate, and characterize ABO(H) antigens on glycoproteins that are involved in hemostasis. First, three unbiased enrichment strategies will be employed for the identification of glycoproteins that carry ABO(H) antigens via proteomics. The presence of the antigens on candidate proteins from these experiments will be validated by Western blots using specific anti-A-, anti-B- and anti-H-antibodies. Finally, mass spectrometry based glycomics and glycoproteomics analyses will be performed to determine the attachment sites and the detailed structures of the glycans that contain the ABO(H) antigens. The results from this research will lay the foundation for the design of experiments to investigate the influence of the different antigens on the protein structure, stability, and function. In future, this work will help facilitate the identification and treatment of patients at risk of bleeding and clotting events, which belong to the leading causes of death worldwide.
DFG Programme
WBP Fellowship
International Connection
USA
