1988 Volume 104 Issue 5 Pages 738-741
Poly-N-acetyllactosamines were prepared from Ehrlich carcinoma cells cultured in the presence of [14C] galactose. Methylation analysis indicated that 31% of the galactose was in the non-reducing end. Of it, 77% was cleaved by a-galactosidase, and 56% was released as a disaccharide by endo-β-galactosidase C. Methylation analysis confirmed that the released disaccharide was mostly Galα1→3Gal. Therefore, Galα1→3Gal structure, not Galα1→3 (Galα1→6) Gal structure, was the major α-galactosyl structure in the poly-N-acetyllactosamines synthesized. Furthermore, α-galactosidase digestion did not change the content of disubstituted galactosyl residues. Thus, Galα1→3 (Galαl→6) Gal structure, which was suggested to be the sole non-reducing terminal structure of poly-N-acetyllactosamines of Ehrlich carcinoma cells, was not detected in significant amounts under the present experimental conditions.
