THE CARBOHYDRATE STRUCTURE OF THE AMYLOID IMMUNOGLOBULIN LIGHT-CHAIN PROTEIN EPS

The glycosylated amyloid light chain protein EPS was isolated from amy loid fibrils fr om the liver of a patient with Waldenstrom's macroglob ulinemia. A tryptic glycopeptide of EPS (200 nmol) was isolated and ch aracterized by H-1-n.m.r. The glycopeptide was digested with N-glycana se and the released oligosaccharides analyzed by high performance anio n exchange chromatography, The monosaccharide composition and the link age of the different oligosaccharides were determined by methanolysis and methylation analysis. The NMR spectrum revealed a bisected bianten nary oligosaccharide as the main structure. HPAEC-PAD demonstrated the presence of several other related glycans in the glycopeptide prepara tion.