Primary structure of a trisialylated oligosaccharide from human milk.

A novel oligosaccharide has been isolated from human milk and identified as a trisialylated derivative of lacto-N-hexaose. This compound was purified by combining ion-exchange chromatography, preparative paper chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography. Structural analyses by methylation, fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy are consistent with the following structure: formula: see text.