STRUCTURAL STUDIES ON SIALYLATED OLIGOSACCHARIDES OF BONNET MONKEY (MACACA-RADIATA) LUTEAL-PHASE CERVICAL-MUCUS GLYCOPROTEIN

Mucin glycoproteins were purified and fractionated from cervical epith elial secretion in luteal phase of the bonnet monkey (Macaca radiata). Polyclonal antibody against the purified luteal phase glycoprotein ne ss reacted with crude luteal phase mucus as well as weakly with ovulat ory phase mucus and purified midcycle glycoproteins, thus suggesting s ome common epitopes in the ovulatory and luteal phase glycoproteins. A lkaline borohydride cleavage of a purified glycoprotein resulted in a mixture of acidic and neutral oligosaccharide alditols. Utilizing high performance chromatography, six oligosaccharide fractions (b-1 to b-6 ) have been purified from the sialylated oligosaccharide fraction b. B ased on the results of enzymic and chemical studies, following structu res are proposed for these oligosaccharides that bear similarities wit h those of the midcycle oligosaccharide structures.