A. J. Hay

The determination of the individual neutral and amino sugars in carbohydrates.

Abstract An experimental study has been made of procedures for the acid hydrolysis and methanolysis of sugar polymers. Individual neutral and amino sugars in the products were examined by colorimetric methods and by gas-liquid chromatography of the trimethylsilyl derivatives. Quantitative N -acetylation of amino sugars was carried out with dilute acetic anhydride in aqueous acetone (1:1, v/v) on a column of Dowex 1 (CO 3 2− form). Methanolysis was found to be preferable for the release of neutral sugars from glyco-proteins, whereas acid hydrolysis should be employed for amino sugars.

The heterogeneity of ovalbumin glycopeptide

Abstract When passed repeatedly down a Sephadex G-25 column, pronase digests of ovalbumin gave glycopeptide fractions with hexose: hexosamine ratios varying progressively from 5:4.8 to 5:2.5. The bulk of the material approximated to a 5:3 ratio, but showed continuous dispersion on recycling on Sephadex. The preparation of pronase contained hexose and yielded a glucose-containing glycopeptide on autodigestion. Errors from this source were avoided by purifying the proteolytic enzyme before use. Pronase was examined for some of the commoner glycosidase activities, with negative results.