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
