A major problem with pig-to-human-tissue xenograft studies is that humans have natural antibodies to pig cells; these antibodies would cause hyperacute rejection if pig tissues were xenografted to humans. Here we show that most of human IgM antibodies present in the serum of healthy donors and reactive with pig cells react with galactose in an (alpha 1-3) linkage with galactose--i.e., Gal(alpha 1-3)Gal. Absorption studies demonstrated that the antibodies detected the same or similar epitopes on the surface of pig erythrocytes, blood and splenic lymphocytes, and aortic endothelial cells (EC). The antibodies were sensitive to 2-mercaptoethanol (2ME) treatment, did not bind to protein A or G, and were present in the high molecular weight fraction of serum; they are clearly IgM antibodies. Further, the antibodies did not react with human ABO blood group substances and are not related to human blood group A or B, which carry a terminal galactose. The reaction of human serum with pig erythrocytes was specifically inhibited by mono- and disaccharides: D-galactose, melibiose, stachyose, methyl-alpha-D-galactopyranoside, and D-galactosamine but not by D-glucose or methyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside; demonstrating that the reaction is with galactose in an alpha and not a beta linkage. A cDNA clone encoding the murine alpha-1,3-galactosyltransferase (which transfers a terminal galactose residue with an (alpha 1-3) linkage to a subterminal galactose) was isolated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), cloned, and transfected into COS cells, which are of Old World monkey origin and, like humans, do not express Gal(alpha 1-3)Gal. After transfection, COS cells became strongly reactive with human serum and with IB4 lectin [which reacts only with Gal(alpha 1-3)Gal]; this reactivity could be removed by absorption with pig erythrocytes. As most of the antibody reacting with pig cells can be removed by absorption with either melibiose or Gal(alpha 1-3)Gal+ COS cells, most of these react with Gal(alpha 1-3)Gal. These findings provide the basis for genetic manipulation of the pig alpha-1,3-galactosyltransferase for future transplantation studies.