Forssman antigenicity of chemically synthesized globopentaose

The Forssman antigenicity of a chemically synthesized globopentaose was studied. Globopentaose at 40 ng showed strong inhibitory activity for the formation of a precipitin line between globopentaosylceramide (Forssman glycolipid) and anti-Forssman rabbit antiserum, while much more pentasaccharide (7 and 100 micrograms, respectively) was required to inhibit a 50% quantitative precipitin reaction and a hemolysis reaction. An immune complex of the 3H-labeled globopentaose with anti-Forssman antibody was hardly formed. Thus, the chemically synthesized globopentaose possesses the same antigenic specificity as globopentaosylceramide but it is difficult to achieve a stable complex with Forssman antibody.