Chemical structure of neutral sugar chains isolated from human mature milk kappa-casein

The carbohydrate chains linked to human kappa-casein from mature milk were released by alkaline borohydride treatment as reduced oligosaccharides. The neutral oligosaccharides of lower molecular weight were fractionated and purified by gel filtration and preparative thin layer chromatographies. Seven neutral oligosaccharides (a di- (0.5%), two tetra- (30.5%), two penta- (5.4%) and two hexasaccharide alditols (10.9%] were obtained in homogeneity, and followed by methylation analysis with gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and by anomer analysis with 13C nuclear magnetic resonance. Their chemical structures were identified to be Gal beta 1----3GalNAc-ol (I), Gal beta 1----3[Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----6]GalNAc-ol (II), Gal beta 1----3[Fuc alpha 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----6]GalNAc-ol (III), GlcNAc beta 1----3/6Gal beta 1----3[Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----6]GalNAc-ol (IV), GlcNAc beta 1----3/6Gal beta 1----3[Fuc alpha 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----6]GalNAc-ol (V), Fuc alpha 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----3/6Gal beta 1----3[Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----6]GalNAc-ol (VI) and Fuc alpha 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----3/6Gal beta 1----3[Fuc alpha 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----6]GalNAc-ol (VII). Five oligosaccharide alditols (III-VII) were the novel carbohydrate chains of kappa-casein from mammalian milk.     

Isolation and structural characterization of the smaller-size oligosaccharides from desialylated human kappa-casein. Establishment of a novel type of core for a mucin-type carbohydrate chain

Alkaline borohydride reductive cleavage (beta-elimination) of desialylated human kappa-caseinoglycopeptide resulted in the release of a series of oligosaccharides. The smaller-size compounds among them were purified to virtual homogeneity by gel filtration followed by high-performance liquid chromatography. The structures of 9 oligosaccharides were determined by 1H-NMR spectroscopy in conjunction with sugar analysis. The tetrasaccharide Gal beta(1----3)[Gal beta(1----4)GlcNAc beta(1----6)] GalNAc-ol and various partial structures thereof were characterized. Notably, the disaccharide GlcNAc beta(1----6)GalNAc-ol and the trisaccharide Gal beta(1----4)GlcNAc beta(1----6)GalNAc-ol were identified; they represent a novel type of core structure for mucin-type carbohydrate chains, namely a peptide-linked GalNAc that is mono-substituted at C-6. In addition, some oligosaccharides ending in GlcNAc-ol could be characterized. Their possible origin is discussed.     

The structure of the O-glycosidic oligosaccharide chains of the major Zajdela hepatoma ascites-cell-membrane glycoprotein

Glycoprotein MII2, the major cell surface glycoprotein (molecular mass 110 kDa) of Zajdela hepatoma ascites cells, contains about 25 O-glycosidic oligosaccharide chains per molecule. They were released as oligosaccharide-alditols by alkaline borohydride treatment of MII2, and purified by gel filtration on Bio-Gel P-6 followed by high-voltage paper electrophoresis. Four oligosaccharide-alditol fractions (A-D) were obtained in relative yields of 8:6:3:3. The structure of the components of fractions A-C was determined by 500-MHz 1H-NMR spectroscopy in combination with sugar composition analysis, to be as follows. (A) NeuAc alpha(2----3)Gal beta(1----3)[NeuAc alpha(2----3)Gal beta(1----4)GlcNAc beta(1----6)]GalNAc-ol; (B1) NeuAc alpha(2----3)Gal beta(1----3)[Gal beta(1----4)GlcNAc beta(1----6)]GalNAc-ol; (B2) Gal beta(1----3)[NeuAc alpha(2----3)Gal beta(1----4)GlcNAc beta(1----6)]GalNAc-ol; (C) NeuAc alpha(2----3)Gal beta(1----3)GalNAc-ol. On the basis of sugar composition and characteristics on Bio-Gel P-6 filtration, paper electrophoresis and thin-layer chromatography, the structure of the carbohydrate component of fraction D is proposed to be as follows. (D) NeuAc alpha(2----3)Gal beta(1----3)[NeuAc alpha(2----6)]GalNAc-ol     

Sulfated oligosaccharides isolated from the respiratory mucins of a secretor patient suffering from chronic bronchitis

The most acidic carbohydrate chains released by alkaline borohydride treatment of the bulk of airway mucins secreted by a patient (blood group O, secretor) suffering from a mildly infected chronic bronchitis have been fractionated using high-performance anion-exchange chromatography (HPAEC) according to a protocol already described [Lo-Guidice et al., J. Biol. Chem. 269 (1994) 18794] and were analyzed using 1H-NMR spectroscopy and matrix-assisted laser-adsorption-time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) spectrometry. Many fractions corresponded to mixtures of oligosaccharides. This confirmed the wide diversity of the post-translational processes involved in the biosynthesis of airway mucins, which had already been observed in bronchial diseases, such as chronic bronchitis and cystic fibrosis (CF). Seven fractions were directly purified by HPAEC, allowing their structural determination. Six of them corresponded to 3-O-sulfated oligosaccharide chains terminated by a sulfated N-acetyllactosamine, a sulfated Lewis X or a sulfated Lewis A determinant, and the last one corresponded to a 6-O-sulfated chain terminated by a sulfated H-2 determinant. Three oligosaccharides had core type 2 and the other four had core type 4: IIIc2-9: Gal(beta1-3)[HSO(3)-3-Gal(beta1-4)GlcNAc(beta1-6)]GalNAc-ol, IIIc2-10: Gal(beta1-3)[Fuc(alpha1-2)Gal(beta1-4)[HSO(3)-6-]GlcNAc(beta1-6)]GalNAc-ol, IIIc2-4: Fuc(alpha1-2)Gal(beta1-3)[HSO(3)-3-Gal(beta1-4)[Fuc(alpha1-3)]GlcNAc(beta1-6)]GalNAc-ol, IIIc2-8: Fuc(alpha1-2)Gal(beta1-3)GlcNAc(beta1-3)[HSO(3)-3-Gal(beta1-4)GlcNAc(beta1-6)]GalNAc-ol, IIIc2-7: Fuc(alpha1-2)Gal(beta1-3)GlcNAc(beta1-3)[Gal(beta1-4)[HSO(3)-6-]GlcNAc(beta1-6)]GalNAc-ol, IIIc2-3: Fuc(alpha1-2)Gal(beta1-3)GlcNAc(beta1-3)[HSO(3)-3-Gal(beta1-4)[Fuc(alpha1-3)]GlcNAc(beta1-6)]GalNAc-ol, IIIc1-4: Fuc(alpha1-2)Gal(beta1-3)GlcNAc(beta1-3)[HSO(3) -3-Gal(beta1-3)[Fuc(alpha1-4)]GlcNAc(beta1-3)Gal(beta1-4)GlcNAc(beta1-6)]GalNAc-ol. Like previous data concerning the airway mucins from another patient (blood group O and non-secretor) suffering from chronic bronchitis [Lo-Guidice et al., Glycoconj. J. 14 (1997) 113], no disialylated oligosaccharide and no sialylated and sulfated oligosaccharide bearing sialyl Lewis X epitope could be isolated. This is in contrast with the data obtained with the airway mucins secreted by the patient severely infected by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and suffering from CF, suggesting that important differences occur in the biosynthesis of airway mucins secreted by patients suffering from different bronchial diseases with or without severe infection.     

Characterization of O-glycosidically linked oligosaccharides of rat erythrocyte membrane sialoglycoproteins

The carbohydrate units of the rat erythrocyte membrane sialoglycoprotein rSGP-4 [Edge, A. S. B., & Weber, P. (1981) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 209, 697-705] have been characterized. All of the carbohydrate of this Mr 19,000 glycoprotein occurs in O-glycosidic linkage to the peptide; following alkaline borohydride treatment and chromatography on Bio-Gel P-2, sialic acid containing oligosaccharides terminating in N-acetylgalactosaminitol were obtained. Their structures were determined by compositional analysis, exoglycosidase digestions, alkaline sulfite degradation, and periodate oxidation. The oligosaccharides were characterized for molecular weight and linkage by direct chemical ionization and gas-liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry, respectively. The structures are proposed to be NeuAc alpha 2----3Gal beta 1----3GalNAc-ol, Gal beta 1----3(NeuAc alpha 2----6)GalNAc-ol, NeuAc alpha 2----3Gal beta 1----3(NeuAc alpha 2----6)GalNAc-ol, and NeuAc alpha 2----3Gal beta 1----3(NeuAc alpha 2----3Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----6)GalNAc-ol. Two of the N-acetylglucosamine-containing hexasaccharides were present per molecule of rSGP-4 along with two trisaccharides and seven tetrasaccharides.     

Immunochemical studies on blood groups. Purification and characterization of radioactive 3H-reduced di- to hexasaccharides produced by alkaline beta-elimination-borohydride 3H reduction of Smith degraded blood group A active glycoproteins

Treatment of blood group A active glycoprotein from human ovarian cyst fluid by one stage of Smith degradation followed by alkaline beta-elimination in the presence of NaB[ 3H4 ] (Carlson degradation) liberated tritiated oligosaccharide alditols. The carbohydrate mixture was fractionated by gel filtration, elution from charcoal, paper chromatography, and high pressure liquid chromatography. Structures were established based on sugar composition, periodate oxidation, methylation analysis, and analysis of oligosaccharide alditols as permethylated and N-trifluoroacetylated derivatives by gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The following structures have been deduced: Gal beta 1----3GalNAc-ol, GlcNAc beta 1---- 6GalNAc -ol, Gal beta 1---- 3GlcNAc beta 1----6(3-deoxy)GalNAc-ol, Gal beta 1---- 3GlcNAc beta 1---- 6GalNAc -ol, Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1---- 6GalNAc -ol, GlcNAc beta 1----3Gal beta 1----3GalNAc-ol, Gal beta 1----3[GlcNAc beta 1----6]GalNAc-ol, Gal beta 1----3[Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----6]GalNAc-ol, Gal beta 1---- 3GlcNAc beta 1----3Gal beta 1----3GalNAc-ol, GlcNAc beta 1----3Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1---- 6GalNAc -ol, GlcNAc beta 1----3Gal beta 1----3[Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----6]GalNAc-ol, Gal beta 1---- 3GlcNAc beta 1----3Gal beta 1---- 3GlcNAc beta 1----3Gal beta 1----3Gal beta 1----3GalNAc-ol, Gal beta 1---- 3GlcNAc beta 1----3[Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----6]Gal beta 1----3GalNAc-ol, Gal beta 1---- 3GlcNAc beta 1----3Gal beta 1----3[Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----6]GalNAc-ol. The smaller structures represent pieces of the larger structures. Together they provide direct evidence for the core structure of the carbohydrate side chains in the blood group substances as proposed by K. O. Lloyd and E. A. Kabat [1968) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 61, 1470-1477). Oligosaccharides previously isolated after Carlson degradation of intact human ovarian cyst fluid HLeb , Lea, and B substances and from human and horse B substances contained various alpha-linked L- fucopyranose and alpha-linked Gal substitutions on the composite structure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Structural studies on O- and N-glycosidically linked carbohydrate chains on Collocalia mucin

Oligosaccharides, which are O- and N-glycosidically linked on salivary glycoproteins from the edible bird's nest of chinese swallows, were released by alkaline borohydride treatment of the asialoglycoproteins and fractionated by gel chromatography. Fract. VN1 (oligosaccharides greater than 2 000 dalton) apparently represented a mixture of saccharides derived from complex, N-glycosidically linked glycans (molar ratio Man/GlcNAc/Gal 3:4:8), while fractions VN2 (tetra- to hexasaccharides), VN3 (trisaccharide) and VN4 (disaccharide) were free of mannose, but did contain all the N-acetylgalactosamine released from the protein as its alditol. Oligosaccharides in Fract. VN2 and VN4 were purified by high-performance liquid chromatography, paper chromatography and thin-layer chromatography, methylated and analysed after total or partial acid hydrolysis by gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The structures of a hexasaccharide in Fract. VN2/6 and of a tetrasaccharide in fraction VN2/4 were finally established after methylation through direct-probe mass spectrometry: Gal(1----4)GlcNAc(1----3)Gal(1----4)GlcNAc(1----3)Gal(1----3)GalNAc- ol and Gal(1----4)GlcNAc(1----6)[Gal(1----3)]GalNAc-ol. Mass spectrometrical and gas-chromatographical data obtained for a disaccharide in Fract. VN4 were identical with those for Gal(beta 1----3)GalNAc-ol.     

Primary structure determination of five sialylated oligosaccharides derived from bronchial mucus glycoproteins of patients suffering from cystic fibrosis. The occurrence of the NeuAc alpha(2----3)Gal beta(1----4)[Fuc alpha(1----3)] GlcNAc beta(1----.) structural element revealed by 500-MHz 1H NMR spectroscopy

The structure of sialylated carbohydrate units of bronchial mucins obtained from cystic fibrosis patients was investigated by 500-MHz 1H NMR spectroscopy in conjunction with sugar analysis. After subjecting the mucins to alkaline borohydride degradation, sialylated oligosaccharide-alditols were isolated by anion-exchange chromatography and fractionated by high performance liquid chromatography. Five compounds could be obtained in a rather pure state; their structures were established as the following: A-1, NeuAc alpha(2----3)Gal beta(1----4) [Fuc alpha(1----3)]GlcNAc beta(1----3)Gal-NAc-ol; A-2, NeuAc alpha(2----3)Gal beta(1----4)GlcNAc beta(1----6)-[GlcNAc beta (1----3)]GalNAc-o1; A-3, NeuAc alpha(2----3)Gal beta-(1----4)[Fuc alpha(1----3)]GlcNAc beta(1----3)Gal beta(1----3) GalNAc-o1; A-4, NeuAc alpha(2----3)Gal beta(1----4)[Fuc alpha(1----3)]Glc-NAc NAc beta(1----6)[GlcNAc beta(1----3)]GalNAc-o1; A-6,NeuAc alpha-(2----3) Gal beta(1----4)[Fuc alpha(1----3)]GlcNAc beta(1----6)[Gal beta-(1----4) GlcNAc beta(1----3)]GalNAc-o1. The simultaneous presence of sialic acid in alpha(2----3)-linkage to Gal and fucose in alpha(1----3)-linkage to GlcNAc of the same N-acetyllactosamine unit could be adequately proved by high resolution 1H NMR spectroscopy. This sequence constitutes a novel structural element for mucins.     

The structures of N- and O-glycosidic carbohydrate chains of a chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan isolated from the media of the human aorta

A large Mr chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan was extracted from the media of human aorta under dissociative conditions and purified by density-gradient centrifugation, ion-exchange chromatography, and gel filtration chromatography. Removal of a contaminating dermatan sulfate proteoglycan was accomplished by reduction, alkylation and rechromatography on the gel filtration column. After chondroitinase ABC treatment, the proteoglycan core was separated from a residual heparan sulfate proteoglycan by a third gel filtration chromatography step. As assessed by radioimmunoassay, the isolated proteoglycan core was free of link protein, but possessed epitopes that were recognized by antisera against the hyaluronic acid binding region of bovine cartilage proteoglycan as well as those that were weakly recognized by anti-keratan sulfate antisera. Following beta-elimination of the protein core, the liberated low Mr oligosaccharides were partially resolved by Sephadex G-50 chromatography, and their primary structure was determined by 500-MHz1H NMR spectroscopy in combination with compositional sugar analysis. The N-glycosidic carbohydrate chains, which were obtained as glycopeptides, were all biantennary glycans containing NeuAc and Fuc; microheterogeneity in the NeuAc----Gal linkage was detected in one of the branches. The N-glycosidic glycans have the following overall structure: (Formula: see text). The majority of the O-glycosidic carbohydrate chains bound to the protein core were found to be of the mucin type. They were obtained as glycopeptides and oligosaccharide alditols, and possessed the following structures: NeuAc alpha(2----3)Gal beta(1----3)GalNAc-ol, [NeuAc alpha(2----3)Gal beta(1----3)[NeuAc alpha(2----6)]GalNAc-ol, and NeuAc alpha-(2----3) Gal beta(1----3)[NeuAc alpha(2----3)Gal beta(1----4)GlcNAc beta(1----6)] GalNAc-ol. The remainder of the O-glycosidic carbohydrate chains bound to the isolated proteoglycan were the hexasaccharide link regions of the chondroitin sulfate chains that remained after chondroitinase ABC treatment of the native molecule. These latter glycans, which were obtained as oligosaccharide alditols, had the following structure (with GalNAc free of sulfate or containing sulfate bound at either C-4 or C-6): delta 4,5GlcUA beta(1----3)GalNAc beta(1----4)GlcUA beta(1----3)Gal beta(1----3)Gal beta(1----4)Xyl-ol.     

Structural characterization of oligosaccharides in the milk of an African elephant (Loxodonta africana africana)

The oligosaccharides present in the milk of an African elephant (Loxodonta africana africana), collected 4 days post partum, were separated by size exclusion-, anion exchange- and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) before characterisation by (1)H NMR spectroscopy. Neutral and acidic oligosaccharides were identified. Neutral oligosaccharides characterised were isoglobotriose, Gal(beta1-4)[Fuc(alpha1-3)]GlcNAc(beta1-3)Gal(beta1-4)Glc, Gal(beta1-4)[Fuc(alpha1-3)]GlcNAc(beta1-3)Gal(beta1-4)[Fuc(alpha1-3)]GlcNAc(beta1-3)Gal(beta1-4)Glc, Gal(alpha1-3)Gal(beta1-4)[Fuc(alpha1-3)]GlcNAc(beta1-3)Gal(beta1-4)Glc and a novel oligosaccharide that has not been reported in the milk or colostrum of any other mammal: Gal(alpha1-3)Gal(beta1-4)[Fuc(alpha1-3)]GlcNAc(beta1-3)Gal(beta1-4)[Fuc(alpha1-3)]GlcNAc(beta1-3)Gal(beta1-4)Glc. Acidic oligosaccharides that are also found in the milk of Asian elephant were Neu5Ac(alpha2-3)Gal(beta1-4)Glc, Neu5Ac(alpha2-6)Gal(beta1-4)Glc, Neu5Ac(alpha2-3)Gal(beta1-4)[Fuc(alpha1-3)]Glc, Neu5Ac(alpha2-6)Gal(beta1-4)GlcNAc(beta1-3)Gal(beta1-4)Glc, Neu5Ac(alpha2-3)Gal(beta1-4)[Fuc(alpha1-3)]GlcNAc(beta1-3)Gal(beta1-4)Glc, Neu5Ac(alpha2-6)Gal(beta1-4)GlcNAc(beta1-3)Gal(beta1-4)[Fuc(alpha1-3)]GlcNAc(beta1-3)Gal(beta1-4)Glc and Neu5Ac(alpha2-6)Gal(beta1-4)GlcNAc(beta1-3){Gal(alpha1-3)Gal(beta1-4)[Fuc(alpha1-3)]GlcNAc(beta1-6)}Gal(beta1-4)Glc, while Neu5Gc(alpha2-3)Gal(beta1-4)Glc, Neu5Ac(alpha2-6)Gal(beta1-4)GlcNAc(beta1-3)Gal(beta1-4)[Fuc(alpha1-3)]Glc, Neu5Ac(alpha2-6)Gal(beta1-4)GlcNAc(beta1-3)[Gal(beta1-4)GlcNAc(beta1-6)]Gal(beta1-4)Glc and Neu5Ac(alpha2-6)Gal(beta1-4)GlcNAc(beta1-3){Gal(beta1-4)[Fuc(alpha1-3)]GlcNAc(beta1-6)}Gal(beta1-4)Glc have not been found in Asian elephant milk. The oligosaccharides characterised contained both alpha(2-3)- and alpha(2-6)-linked Neu5Ac residues. They also contain only the type II chain, as found in most non-human, eutherian mammals.     

Structural determination of the oligosaccharides in the milk of an Asian elephant (Elephas maximus)

Milk of an Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), collected at 11 days post partum, contained 91 g/L of hexose and 3 g/L of sialic acid. The dominant saccharide in this milk sample was lactose, but it also contained isoglobotriose (Glc(alpha1-3)Gal(beta1-4)Glc) as well as a variety of sialyl oligosaccharides. The sialyl oligosaccharides were separated from neutral saccharides by anion exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex A-50 and successive gel chromatography on Bio Gel P-2. They were purified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using an Amide-80 column and characterized by 1H-NMR spectroscopy. Their structures were determined to be those of 3'-sialyllactose, 6'-sialyllactose, monofucosyl monosialyl lactose (Neu5Ac(alpha2-3)Gal(beta1-4)[Fuc(alpha1-3)]Glc), sialyl lacto-N-neotetraose c (LST c), galactosyl monosialyl lacto-N-neohexaose, galactosyl monofucosyl monosialyl lacto-N-neohexaose and three novel oligosaccharides as follows: Neu5Ac(alpha2-3)Gal(beta1-4)[Fuc(alpha1-3)]GlcNAc(beta1-3)Gal(beta1-4)Glc, Neu5Ac(alpha2-6)Gal(beta1-4)GlcNAc(beta1-3)Gal(beta1-4)GlcNAc(beta1-3)Gal(beta1-4)Glc, and Neu5Ac(alpha2-3)Gal(beta1-4)[Fuc(alpha1-3)]GlcNAc(beta1-3)Gal(beta1-4)[Fuc(alpha1-3)]GlcNAc(beta1-3)Gal(beta1-4)Glc. The higher oligosaccharides contained only the type II chain (Gal(beta1-4)GlcNAc); this finding differed from previously published data on Asian elephant milk oligosaccharides.     

Structure determination of five sialylated trisaccharides with core types 1, 3 or 5 isolated from bovine submaxillary mucin

In this study we have investigated the structures of five sialylated trisaccharides released from bovine submaxillary mucin by alkaline borohydride treatment and isolated by high-performance liquid chromatography. Three of the trisaccharides contained NeuAc while two contained NeuGc. One oligosaccharide contained core-type 1, two contained core-type 3 and two contained core-type 5. The structures, determined by a combination of one- and two-dimensional 1H-NMR spectroscopy at 270 MHz and methylation analysis involving gas-liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry, were as follows: A4b, GalNAc alpha(1----3) [NeuAc alpha(2----6)]GalNAcol; A4c, GlcNAc beta(1----3)[NeuAc alpha(2----6)]GalNAcol; A4d, Gal beta(1----3)[NeuAc alpha(2----6)]GalNAcol; A4e, GalNAc alpha(1----3)-[NeuGc alpha(2----6)]GalNAcol; A4f, GlcNAc beta(1----3)[NeuGc alpha (2----6)]GalNAcol. The oligosaccharides occurred in the approximate molar ratios 1.0:12.0:0.3:0.2:2.0. This is the first report of oligosaccharides containing core-type 5 and of the occurrence of oligosaccharides A4b, A4e, and A4f in bovine submaxillary mucin. 1H-NMR data for structure A4e, which is a novel structure, are presented for the first time.     

Carbohydrate moieties of peanut agglutinin receptors isolated from human gastric cancer cells

Receptors for peanut agglutinin (PNA) were isolated from Kato III human gastric cancer cells by affinity chromatography on PNA agarose, and were labeled by the galactose oxidase-NaB3H4 method. Alkaline NaBH4 treatment of the labeled receptors released two small oligosaccharide alcohols, which were identified as Gal beta 1----3GalNAc-ol and Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----6(Gal beta 1----3)GalNAc-ol. Higher oligosaccharides and glycopeptides of both N- and O-linked type were also detected, but they did not appear to bear PNA binding sites. The presence of oligo-N-acetyllactosamine units in the N-linked type sugars was indicated by endo-beta-galactosidase digestion.     

Chemical characterization of milk oligosaccharides of the polar bear, Ursus maritimus

Two trisaccharides, three tetrasaccharides, two pentasaccharides, one hexasaccharide, one heptasaccharide, one octasaccharide and one decasaccharide were isolated from polar bear milk samples by chloroform/methanol extraction, gel filtration, ion exchange chromatography and preparative thin-layer chromatography. The oligosaccharides were characterized by 1H-NMR as follows: the saccharides from one animal: Gal(alpha1-3)Gal(beta1-4)Glc (alpha3'-galactosyllactose), Fuc(alpha1-2)Gal(beta1-4)Glc (2'-fucosyllactose), Gal(alpha1-3)[Fuc(alpha1-2)]Gal(beta1-4)Glc (B-tetrasaccharide), GalNAc(alpha1-3)[Fuc(alpha1-2)]Gal(beta1-4)Glc (A-tetrasaccharide), Gal(alpha1-3)Gal(beta1-4)GlcNAc(beta1-3)Gal(beta1-4)Glc, Gal(alpha1-3)[Fuc(alpha1-2)]Gal(beta1-4)GlcNAc(beta1-3)Gal(beta1-4)Gl c, Gal(alpha1-3)Gal(beta1-4)GlcNAc(beta1-3)[Gal(alpha1-3)Gal(beta1-4)Glc NAc(beta1-6)]Gal(beta1-4)Glc; the saccharides from another animal: alpha3'-galactosyllactose, Gal(alpha1-3)Gal(beta1-4)[Fuc(alpha1-3)]Glc, A-tetrasaccharide, GalNAc(alpha1-3)[Fuc(alpha1-2)]Gal(beta1-4)[Fuc(alpha1-3)]Glc (A-pentasaccharide), Gal(alpha1-3)Gal(beta1-4)[Fuc(alpha1-3)]GlcNAc(beta1-3)Gal(beta1-4)Gl c, Gal(alpha1-3)Gal(beta1-4)[Fuc(alpha1-3)]GlcNAc(beta1-3)Gal(beta1-4)[F uc(alpha1-3)]Glc (difucosylheptasaccharide) and Gal(alpha1-3)Gal(beta1-4)[Fuc(alpha1-3)]GlcNAc(beta1-3)?Gal(alpha1-3) Gal(beta1-4)[Fuc(alpha1-3)]GlcNAc(beta1-6)?Gal(beta1-4)Glc (difucosyldecasaccharide). Lactose was present only in small amounts. Some of the milk oligosaccharides of the polar bear had alpha-Gal epitopes similar to some oligosaccharides in milk from the Ezo brown bear and the Japanese black bear. Some milk oligosaccharides had human blood group A antigens as well as B antigens; these were different from the oligosaccharides in Ezo brown and Japanese black bears.     

Diversity of oligosaccharide structures linked to asparagines of the scrapie prion protein

Prion proteins from humans and rodents contain two consensus sites for asparagine-linked glycosylation near their C-termini. The asparagine-linked oligosaccharides of the scrapie isoform of the hamster prion protein (PrP 27-30) were released quantitatively from the purified molecule by hydrazinolysis followed by N-acetylation and NaB3H4 reduction. The radioactive oligosaccharides were fractionated into one neutral and three acidic oligosaccharide fractions by anion-exchange column chromatography. All oligosaccharides in the acidic fractions could be converted to neutral oligosaccharides by sialidase digestion. Structural studies on these oligosaccharides including sequential exoglycosidase digestion in combination with methylation analysis revealed that PrP 27-30 contains a mixture of bi-, tri-, and tetraantennary complex-type sugar chains with Man alpha 1----6(GlcNAc beta 1----4)(Man alpha 1----3)Man beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----4-(Fuc alpha 1----6)GlcNAc as their core. Variation is produced by the different combination of the oligosaccharides Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----, Gal beta 1----4(Fuc alpha 1----3)GlcNAc beta 1----, GlcNAc beta 1----, Sia alpha 2----3Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----, and Sia alpha 2----6Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1---- in their outer chain moieties. When both asparagine-linked consensus sites are glycosylated, the diversity of oligosaccharide structures yields over 400 different forms of the scrapie prion protein. Whether these diverse asparagine-linked oligosaccharides participate in scrapie prion infectivity or modify the function of the cellular prion protein remains to be established.     

Chemical characterization of milk oligosaccharides of the Japanese black bear, Ursus thibetanus japonicus

Two trisaccharides, two tetrasaccharides, one penta-, one hexa-, two hepta-, one deca- and two undeca-saccharides were isolated from several Japanese black bear milk samples by chloroform/methanol extraction, gel filtration and preparative thin-layer chromatography. The oligosaccharides were characterized by 1H-NMR as follows: Gal(alpha 1-3)Gal(beta 1-4)Glc (alpha 3'-galactosyllactose), Fuc(alpha 1-2)Gal(beta 1-4)Glc (2'-fucosyllactose), Gal(alpha 1-3)(Fuc(alpha 1-2))Gal(beta 1-4)Glc (B-tetrasaccharide), Gal(alpha 1-3)Gal(beta 1-4)(Fuc(alpha 1-3))Glc, Gal(alpha 1-3)[Fuc(alpha 1-2)]Gal(beta 1-4)[Fuc(alpha 1-3)]Glc (B-pentasaccharide), Gal(alpha 1-3)Gal(beta 1-4)[Fuc(alpha 1-3)]GlcNAc(beta 1-3)Gal(beta 1-4)Glc (monofucosylhexasaccharide), Gal(alpha 1-3)[Fuc(alpha 1-2)]Gal(beta 1-4)[Fuc(alpha 1-3)]GlcNAc(beta 1-3)Gal(beta 1-4)Glc (difucosylheptasaccharide), Gal(alpha 1-3)Gal(beta 1-4)[Fuc(alpha 1-3)]GlcNAc(beta 1-3)Gal(beta 1-4)[Fuc(alpha 1-3)]Glc (difucosylheptasaccharide), Gal(alpha 1-3)Gal(beta 1-4)[Fuc(alpha 1-3)]GlcNAc(beta 1-3)[Gal(alpha 1-3)Gal(beta 1-4)[Fuc(alpha 1-3)]GlcNAc(beta 1-6)]Gal(beta 1-4)Glc (difucosyldecasaccharide), Gal(alpha 1-3)[Fuc(alpha 1-2)]Gal(beta 1-4)[Fuc(alpha 1-3)]GlcNAc(beta 1-3)[Gal(alpha 1-3) Gal(beta 1-4)[Fuc(alpha 1-3)]GlcNAc(beta 1-6)]Gal(beta 1-4)Glc (trifucosylundecasaccharide), Gal(alpha 1-3)Gal(beta 1-4)[Fuc(alpha 1-3)]GlcNAc(beta 1-3)[Gal(alpha 1-3)[Fuc(alpha 1-2)]Gal(beta 1-4)[Fuc(alpha 1-3)]GlcNAc(beta 1-6)]Gal(beta 1-4)Glc (trifucosylundecasaccharide). Lactose was present only in trace amounts. B-pentasaccharide was a dominant saccharide in early lactation milk, while alpha 3'-galactosyllactose was dominant in milk, later. The milk oligosaccharides of the Japanese black bear were compared with those of the Ezo brown bear.     

Structural study on the carbohydrate moiety of human placental alkaline phosphatase

Alkaline phosphatase purified from human placenta contains a single asparagine-linked sugar chain in one molecule. The sugar chain was quantitatively liberated as radioactive oligosaccharides from the polypeptide moiety by hydrazinolysis followed by N-acetylation and NaB3H4 reduction, and separated by paper electrophoresis into one neutral and two acidic fractions. By a combination of sequential exoglycosidase digestion and methylation analysis, the structures of oligosaccharides in the neutral fraction were confirmed to be as follows: Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----2Man alpha 1----6(Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----2Man alpha 1----3)Man beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----4(+/- Fuc alpha 1----6)GlcNAc. The acidic oligosaccharide fractions were mixtures of mono- and disialyl derivatives of the neutral fraction. All the sialic acid residues of the sugar chains occur as the NeuAc alpha 2----3Gal group. In the case of monosialyl derivatives, the N-acetylneuraminic acid was exclusively linked to the Man alpha 1----3 arm.     

Structure determination of oligosaccharides isolated from Cad erythrocyte membranes by permethylation analysis and 500-MHz 1H-NMR spectroscopy

Alkaline borohydride reductive cleavage (beta-elimination) of glycophorin A isolated from one individual of the rare blood group Cad, resulted in the release of six acidic oligosaccharide-alditols which were separated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on an alkyl amine silicagel column. The structure of four of them has been determined by the application of methanolysis, methylation analysis and 1H-NMR spectroscopy at 500 MHz. The structures and relative amounts were as follows: oligosaccharide 1: NeuAc(alpha 2-3)Gal(beta 1-3)GalNAc-ol (3.5%); oligosaccharide 3: GalNAc(beta 1-4)[NeuAc(alpha 2-3)]Gal(beta 1-3)GalNAc-ol (10.5%); oligosaccharide 5: NeuAc(alpha 2-3)Gal(beta 1-3)[NeuAc(alpha 2-6)]GalNAc-ol (10.4%); oligosaccharide 6: GalNAc(beta 1-4)[NeuAc(alpha 2-3)]Gal(beta 1-3)[NeuAc(alpha 2-6)]GalNAc-ol (71.2%). The two other oligosaccharides (2 and 4) were obtained in very low amount. The major pentasaccharide (oligosaccharide 6) carries the blood group Cad determinant and is a potent inhibitor of human anti-Sda antibody.     

Immunochemistry of I/i-active oligo- and polyglycosylceramides from rabbit erythrocyte membranes. Determination of branching patterns of a ceramide pentadecasaccharide by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance

1H NMR spectra of the ceramide hexasaccharide obtained after the removal of the terminal alpha-Gal and subterminal beta-Gal residues from the ceramide decasaccharide, Gal(alpha 1-3)Gal(beta 1-4)GlcNAc(beta 1-3)[Gal(alpha 1-3)Gal(beta 1-4)GlcNAc (beta 1-6)]Gal(beta 1-4)GlcNAc(beta 1-3)Gal(beta 1-4)Glc(beta 1-1)Cer, showed that terminal and internal GlcNAc residues are differentiated by their chemical shifts. This finding enabled us to determine the primary structure of the title compound as Gal(alpha 1-3)Gal(beta 1-4)GlcNAc (beta 1-3)[Gal(alpha 1-3)Gal(beta 1-4)GlcNAc(beta 1-6)]Gal(beta 1-4)GlcNAc (beta 1-3)[Gal(alpha 1-3)Gal(beta 1-4)GlcNAc(beta 1-6)]Gal(beta 1-4)GlcNAc (beta 1-3)Gal(beta 1-4)Glc(beta 1-1)Cer. Alternative branching of this oligosaccharide chain was excluded since the removal of all terminal alpha-Gal and penultimate beta-Gal residues yielded a ceramide nonasaccharide containing one terminal and two internal 1----3-linked GlcNAc residues, as well as two terminal 1----6-linked GlcNAc units. The intermediate degradation products of the ceramide deca- and pentadecasaccharides , viz. the ceramide octa- and dodecasaccharide , obtained by the removal of alpha-Gal residues only, as well as the linear ceramide heptasaccharide, Gal(alpha 1-3)Gal(beta 1-4)GlcNAc(beta 1-3) Gal(beta 1-4)GlcNAc(beta 1-3)Gal(beta 1-4)Glc(beta 1-1)Cer, and ceramide hexasaccharide, Gal(beta 1-4)GlcNAc(beta 1-3)Gal(beta 1-4)GlcNAc (beta 1-3)Gal(beta 1-4)Glc(beta 1-1)Cer, were also investigated. The usefulness of the glycosylation-induced chemical shifts is discussed.     

Chemical characterization of milk oligosaccharides of the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)

Previous structural characterizations of marsupial milk oligosaccharides had been performed in only two macropod species, the tammar wallaby and the red kangaroo. To clarify the homology and heterogeneity of milk oligosaccharides among marsupial species, which could provide information on their evolution, the oligosaccharides of the koala milk carbohydrate fraction were characterized in this study. Neutral and acidic oligosaccharides were separated from the carbohydrate fraction of milk of the koala, a non-macropod marsupial, and characterized by ¹H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The structures of the neutral saccharides were found to be Gal(β1-4)Glc (lactose), Gal(β1-3)Gal(β1-4)Glc (3′-galactosyllactose), Gal(β1-3)Gal(β1-3)Gal(β1-4)Glc (3′,3″-digalactosyllactose), Gal(β1-3)[Gal(β1-4)GlcNAc(β1-6)]Gal(β1-4)Glc (lacto-N-novopentaose I) and Gal(β1-3){Gal(β1-4)[Fuc(α1-3)]GlcNAc(β1-6)}Gal(β1-4)Glc (fucosyl lacto-N-novopentaose I), while those of the acidic saccharides were Neu5Ac(α2-3)Gal(β1-4)Glc (3′-SL), Neu5Ac(α2-3)Gal(β1-3)Gal(β1-4)Gal (sialyl 3′-galactosyllactose), Neu5Ac(α2-3)Gal(β1-3)[Gal(β1-4)GlcNAc(β1-6)]Gal(β1-4)Glc (sialyl lacto-N-novopentaose a), Gal(β1-3)[Neu5Ac(α2-6)Gal(β1-4)GlcNAc(β1-6)]Gal(β1-4)Glc (sialyl lacto-N-novopentaose b), Gal(β1-3)[Neu5Ac(α2-3)Gal(β1-4)GlcNAc(β1-6)]Gal(β1-4)Glc (sialyl lacto-N-novopentaose c), and Neu5Ac(α2-3)Gal(β1-3){Gal(β1-4)[Fuc(α1-3)]GlcNAc(β1-6)}Gal(β1-4)Glc (fucosyl sialyl lacto-N-novopentaose a). The neutral oligosaccharides, other than fucosyl lacto-N-novopentaose I, a novel hexasaccharide, had been found in milk of the tammar wallaby, a macropod marsupial, while the acidic oligosaccharides, other than fucosyl sialyl lacto-N-novopentaose a had been identified in milk carbohydrate of the red kangaroo. The presence of fucosyl oligosaccharides is a significant feature of koala milk, in which it differs from milk of the tammar wallaby and the red kangaroo.