Quantifying Erythrocyte Carbohydrate Surface Antigen Concentration In Lipid Rafts
School Name
Center for Advanced Technical Studies
Grade Level
12th Grade
Presentation Topic
Cell and Molecular Biology
Presentation Type
Non-Mentored
Oral Presentation Award
1st Place
Abstract
The lack of sufficient blood stores is a major problem facing modern medicine. In the United States alone, blood transfusion volume sums to roughly thirty million pints of blood being utilized each year. A complication thus arises in maintaining sufficient blood stores to meet this growing demand. To exacerbate an already precarious condition, blood types further attenuate the supply of blood in proportion to those who need it. The purpose of this project is to aide current research targeted at neutralizing blood antigens. Since surface antigens are carbohydrate molecules that bind to glycolipids and glycoproteins, it is hypothesized that surface antigens will be concentrated on or around lipid rafts in the cell membrane of erythrocytes where there are increased concentrations of sphingolipids. Lipid rafts will be isolated from the plasma membrane using serial buffer dilution. Concentration of N-acetylgalactosamine and galactose will then be measured using biotinylated wisteria floribunda lectins in biotin concentration assay. Statistical computations will determine if there is a significantly greater concentration of antigens in lipid rafts.
Recommended Citation
Heron, Matthew, "Quantifying Erythrocyte Carbohydrate Surface Antigen Concentration In Lipid Rafts" (2016). South Carolina Junior Academy of Science. 141.
https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/scjas/2016/all/141
Location
Owens 202
Start Date
4-16-2016 10:45 AM
Quantifying Erythrocyte Carbohydrate Surface Antigen Concentration In Lipid Rafts
Owens 202
The lack of sufficient blood stores is a major problem facing modern medicine. In the United States alone, blood transfusion volume sums to roughly thirty million pints of blood being utilized each year. A complication thus arises in maintaining sufficient blood stores to meet this growing demand. To exacerbate an already precarious condition, blood types further attenuate the supply of blood in proportion to those who need it. The purpose of this project is to aide current research targeted at neutralizing blood antigens. Since surface antigens are carbohydrate molecules that bind to glycolipids and glycoproteins, it is hypothesized that surface antigens will be concentrated on or around lipid rafts in the cell membrane of erythrocytes where there are increased concentrations of sphingolipids. Lipid rafts will be isolated from the plasma membrane using serial buffer dilution. Concentration of N-acetylgalactosamine and galactose will then be measured using biotinylated wisteria floribunda lectins in biotin concentration assay. Statistical computations will determine if there is a significantly greater concentration of antigens in lipid rafts.
