The separation and quantitative determination of the component sugars of mucoproteins

Abstract

A method allowing the complete analysis of the sugar components of mucoproteins was described. Main features of the method are reduction to a minimum of the detrimental interaction between reducing sugars and amino acids before their separation and chromatographic identification and determination of the individual sugars. Accuracy of the method is [plus or minus] 10%. Recovery by the procedure of known amounts of sugar added to a protein is almost quantitative. The intrinsic sugars of a mucoprotein are recovered to an extent of 70-90%. One factor determining the degree of recovery appears to be the amino sugar/non-amino sugar ratio, a low value favoring a high recovery in the cases tested. Within this limitation a complete analysis of the carbo-hydrate moiety of thyroglobulin, bovine-submaxillary-gland mucoprotein and ovomucoid is presented.