[Heterogeneity of carbohydrate chains of acidic bronchial mucin isolated from the spatum of two subjects with chronic bronchitis].

Acidic glycoproteins having blood group H activity were isolated from the sputum of two patients suffering from chronic bronchitis by reduction of the fibrillar mucus, chromatography on ECTEOLA-cellulose and gel filtration on Sepharose 4-B. These glycoproteins were degraded with alkaline borohydride and the degradation products were fractionated by chromatography on ionexchange resins and by gel filtration. The carbohydrate chains have a wide heterogeneity with regard to acidity and molecular size. Therefore carbohydrate chain heterogeneity which was already observed for bronchial glycoproteins isolated from a patient suffering from cystic fibrosis is not specific for cystic fibrosis.