Heterogeneity of carcinoembryonic antigen. II. Monosaccharide composition of concanavalin A-reactive and -nonreactive CEA.

Monosaccharide compositions of Con A-reactive CEA (CEA-M) and Con A-nonreactive CEA (CEA-P) separated from two different samples of CEA were analysed by gas liquid chromatography. It was revealed that all CEA subfractions possessed N-acetylglucosamine, fucose, and galactose residues. One out of 4 subfractions did not contain sialic acid and another one lacked glucose in its carbohydrate moiety. N-acetylgalactosamine was not detected in measurable amount in any of the 4 subfractions. A large amount of mannose was found in CEA-M, but only a small amount in CEA-P.