The carbohydrates of influenza virus. II. Gas chromatographic analysis of glycopeptides derived from viral glycoproteins and mucopolysaccharides.

Two carbohydrate fractions can be obtained from egg-grown influenza virus after Pronase digestion followed by gel chromatography. One fraction contains glycopeptides (MW ca. 2000--2600) which represent the carbohydrate side chains of the viral glycoproteins. The constituent sugars of this material are fucose, galactose, glucosamine, and mannose, and their position within the side chain has been partially elucidated by methylation studies. The other fraction (MW greatest than 6000) appears to be mucopolysaccharide and is composed of fucose, galactose, glucose, galactosamine, and glucosamine.