The monosaccharide transporter from human erythrocytes is heterogeneously glycosylated.

Labeling of intact erythrocytes with galactose $\text{oxidase}\text{NaB}{}^3\text{H]}{}_4$ resulted in the incorporation of radioactivity into the monosaccharide transporter. When the purified labeled protein was subjected to SDS gel electrophoresis, the peak of radioactivity migrated more slowly than the peak of Coomassie Blue-staining material. Endo-β-galactosidase treatment of the purified labeled transporter led to partial loss of the label, sharpening of the stain profile, and a change in the apparent molecular mass of the polypeptide from 55,000 to 46,000 daltons. Approximately 50% of the transporter bound to a column of Ricinus communis agglutinin I-agarose. These findings demonstrate that the transporter is heterogeneously glycosylated and, in conjunction with other data, show that it is a transmembrane protein and probably a source of erythroglycan.