TOMATO PLANT-LEAVES ALSO CONTAIN UNCONJUGATED N-GLYCANS

The presence of unconjugated N-glycans was investigated in the differe nt parts of the whole plant of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum, Mill., var. Dombito). We confirm that the pericarp of ripe fruits contain th e free N-glycans Man(5)GlcNAc to Man(9)GlcNAc and GlcNAcMan(3)(Xyl)Glc NAc(2)(Fuc). Oligomannosidic glycans are also present in the leaves. F urthermore, two new unconjugated N-glycans have been isolated in tomat o leaves and their primary structures determined by H-1-NMR spectrosco py as Man(3)(Xyl)GlcNAc(2) and Man(3)GlcNAc(2). The amount of unconjug ated N-glycans found in tomato leaves (18.5 mg kg(-1) fresh weight) is higher than in the fruit (1 mg kg(-1) fresh weight).