Biochemistry vs. Immunology

ENCOUNTER

In Biochemistry: We are currently discussing carbohydrates and their functions in an organism. 

• Oligosaccharides are carbohydrates molecules composed of little monosaccharides unit. 
• Polysaccharides are multiple molecules of sugars. 
• Glycosphingolipid: lipids that come from ceramides that contain sugars/glucose. 

Polysaccharides contribute to the blood types, which are A, B, AB, & O. There are different kinds of polysaccharides (sugars), and the combination of these sugars determine the blood type of an individual. Human blood groups depend on the enzyme that catalyzes formation of the glycosidic bond. The O antigen contains (Lipids- Glucose-Galactose-N-acetylglucosamine-Galactose-Fucose)

Blood type A is composed of the same sugars above but rather N-acetylgalactosamine. The genes in a person's DNA encodes for a specific transferase enzyme for the addition of the blood type an individual is bound to have. So in plain terms, if a person's gene code for type A or type B transferase, the person would have blood type O. 

In immunology, blood type O has no antigens on the erythrocytes, blood type A has B-antigen, blood type B has A-antigen, and blood type AB has both antigens. This is why an individual gets a blood transfusion from another person with a similar blood type. Antibodies circulating the person's blood will attack RBCs that are a mismatched of theirs. 

Conclusion, In Immunology, it's about the antigens and biochemistry is how you get the antigens. Biochem discusses the structure and immunology talks about the effects of it; it elaborates more on what the antigen does. Biochemistry is about the structure of the proteins while Immunology is the function of the proteins. 

There are a lot of ways to relate biochemistry and immunology, but this is just a brief summary. To learn more about this topic,  here are websites: 

• http://biology.stackexchange.com/questions/26374/why-can-blood-group-o-be-given-to-all-blood-groups
• https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Structural_Biochemistry/Carbohydrates/Blood_Type
• https://www.quora.com/How-are-polysaccharides-helpful-in-determining-the-blood-group

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