Carbohydrates of Bovine α-Lactalbumin Preparations

Abstract

D-mannose, D-galactose, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-galactose, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose and N-acetyl neuraminic acid have been identified in preparations of bovine a-lactalbumin. The preparations were fractionated by ion-exchange chromatography in an attempt to determine the origin of the carbohydrates. The existence of two minor components associated with a-lactalbumin, and differing markedly in their carbohydrate composition, is suggested. One component contained most of the carbohydrates in the preparations, and appeared similar to that isolated by Barman¹ whilst the other minor component contained principally hexosamine, and appeared similar to that isolated by Gordon et al.²