Characterisation of minor tetra- to hepta-saccharides O-linked to human meconium glycoproteins by t.l.c.-m.s. microsequencing of neoglycolipid derivatives in conjunction with conventional m.s. and 1H-n.m.r. spectroscopy.

As part of the establishment of a data base for core and backbone sequences of O-linked oligosaccharides of human meconium glycoproteins, the minor tetra- to hepta-saccharides released from mild-acid treated blood group [corrected] H-active glycoproteins have been studied. These oligosaccharides are heterogeneous and difficult to isolate, and a t.l.c.-m.s. microsequencing procedure has been applied to the neoglycolipid derivatives, in conjunction with 1H-n.m.r. spectroscopy, methylation analysis, and mass spectrometry (m.s.) of native and methylated oligosaccharides. Among an array of oligosaccharides characterised are those having the branched beta-GlcNAc-(1----6)[beta-Gal- (1----3)]-GalNAcol core, and others with the following linear sequences not characterised previously from this source: beta-Gal-(1----3)-beta-GlcNAc-(1----3)-beta-Gal-(1----3)-GalNAcol, beta-Gal-(1----4)-beta-GlcNAc-(1----3)-beta-Gal-(1----3)-GalNAcol, alpha-GalNAc- (1----3)-beta-Gal-(1----3/4)-beta-GlcNAc-(1----3)-GalNAcol, beta-GlcNAc- (1----3)-beta-Gal-(1----3/4)-beta-GlcNAc-(1----3)- GalNAcol, beta-Gal-(1----3/4)-beta-GlcNAc-(1----3)-beta-Gal-(1----3/4)-beta- GlcNAc-(1----3)-beta-Gal-(1----3)-GalNAcol, and beta-GlcNAc-(1----3)-beta-Gal-(1----3/4)-beta-GlcNAc-(1----3)-beta-Gal- (1----3/4)-beta-GlcNAc-(1----3)-GalNAcol.