Alcohol impact on membrane glycoprotein: a lectin study

Abstract

Alcohol intoxication has damaging effect on cell membrane components. Increased fluidity, altered biophysical properties, altered osmotic fragility and loss of membrane bound enzyme activity support this fact. Carbohydrate moieties of glyco-conjugates are no exception. Lectin, carbohydrate binding protein detects such aberrations and provide important tool to Glycobiologist. In present study we found increased exposure of M. charantia agglutinin recognizable galactose epitopes on the erythrocyte surface in alcoholics without any liver disorders. Decreased levels of membrane bound sialic acid suggest desialylation possible cause for exposed penultimate galactose epitopes. Though, mechanism needs to be evaluated present study points over exposure of galactose epitopes on erythrocyte membrane of alcoholics