Red blood cell surfaces carry short carbohydrate chains attached to membrane proteins and lipids, and the pattern of these chains determines blood type. What does this illustrate about carbohydrates?

Core Concept

Carbohydrate chains attached to membrane proteins and lipids can serve as cell-recognition markers. The ABO blood-group antigens are a clear example: different terminal carbohydrate structures on red blood cells are recognized differently by antibodies. Cell and tissue recognition more broadly also depends on many proteins and other surface molecules, including HLA/MHC proteins in transplantation, so glycan patterns should not be presented as the sole basis of tissue compatibility.