Carbohydrate ligands specific for MHC molecules

A method of identifying a carbohydrate ligand that binds to a leczyme, comprising the steps of:

• a. contacting a sample containing a carbohydrate ligand with a leczyme suspected to bind such a ligand;
• and
• b. detecting whether binding of the ligand and the leczyme has occurred.

A method of identifying a leczyme that binds to a carbohydrate ligand, comprising the steps of:

• a. contacting a sample containing a leczyme with a carbohydrate ligand suspected to bind such a leczyme;
• and
• b. detecting whether binding of the leczyme and the ligand has occurred.

A method of identifying a carbohydrate ligand that modifies the function of a leczyme-expressing cell, comprising the steps of:

• a. contacting a sample containing such a carbohydrate ligand with a leczyme-expressing cell;
• and
• b. subsequently assaying the cell to determine it's function.

A method of identifying a leczyme that modifies the function of a carbohydrate ligand-expressing cell, comprising the steps of:

• a. contacting a sample containing such a leczyme with a carbohydrate ligand-expressing cell;
• and
• b. subsequently assaying the cell to determine it's function.

A method of modifying the function of a leczyme-expressing cell, comprising contacting the cell with a carbohydrate ligand that binds the leczyme.

A method of modifying the function of a carbohydrate ligand-expressing cell, comprising contacting the cell with a leczyme that binds the ligand.

A method of modifying a cell to produce a carbohydrate ligand, comprising introducing an expression vector encoding a leczyme into the cell to obtain expression of the leczyme, wherein said expression results in production of the carbohydrate ligand by the cell.

A method for treating a disease state involving a leczyme, comprising administering an effective amount of a leczyme having a similar binding specificity for a carbohydrate ligand as the leczyme involved in the disease state.

A method for detecting a genetic predisposition for hemochromatosis, comprising detecting a mutation in the heavy chain of a class I MHC molecule that reduces the ability of said heavy chain to associate with β2 microglobulin.