Carbohydrate components of lipovitellin of the sand crab Emerita asiatica

Lipovitellin II (Lv II), the major yolk protein of the anomuran crab Emerita asiatica, was purified using heparin-sepharose affinity column chromatography. The purified Lv II was a glycoprotein as it was stainable with periodic acid-Schiff's reagent. Quantitative analysis of sugars showed the presence of fucose, mannose, galactosamine, N-linked oligosaccharides, as well as O-linked oligosaccharides containing N-acetyl hexosamine as the terminal residue. The amount of N-linked oligosaccharides is higher than that of the O-linked oligosaccharides. Biogel P-4 column chromatographic separation of the radiolabeled oligosaccharides of Lv II showed the presence of five different O-linked oligosaccharides and four different N-linked oligosaccharide species. HPTLC separation of the neoglycolipids prepared from the O-linked oligosaccharides also showed the presence of five different O-linked oligosaccharide species. N-linked oligosaccharides contain significant quantities of mannose. Unisil column chromatographic purification in conjunction with HPTLC separation revealed three neutral glycolipid species such as monoglycosylceramide, diglycosylceramide, and triglycosylceramide in the Lv II. The functional significance of these carbohydrate components of the major yolk protein during embryogenesis of the sand crab is discussed.