Determination of Serum Polysaccharides by the Tryptophane Reaction.

Abstract

A colorimetric method based on the reaction of tryptophane with carbohydrates is described for the determination of serum non-glucosamine polysaccharide. The absorption maximum for the carbohy-drate-tryptophane compound is at 500 mμ for galactose and for mannose, 460 mμ for glucose, and 520 m//, for fructose. Glucuronic acid, glucosamine, and hemoglobin have maxima at wave lengths below 400 mμ. Glucuronic acid also exhibits a weak band at 480-500 mμ.