STRUCTURE OF 4 ACIDIC OLIGOSACCHARIDES FROM THE JELLY COAT SURROUNDING THE EGGS OF XENOPUS-LAEVIS

Novel acidic oligosaccharides were released by reductive beta-eliminat ion from the jelly coat eggs of the Anuran Xenopus laevis. According t o the structural analysis of these oligosaccharide-alditols, the follo wing structures are proposed: [GRAPHICS] where Kdn, 3-deoxy-D-glycero- D-galactononulosonic acid. These results confirm the species specifici ty of the glycanic structures present in the secretion of amphibian ov iducts, and may form the basis of a specific egg-sperm recognition pro cess.