Characterization of a glycoprotein fraction with an unusual composition from eel serum.

A glycoprotein fraction was extracted from eel serum with a high carbohydrate content of 60% as determined by gas-liquid chromatography. Remarkable is the presence of glucose (5%) which is not attributable to a contaminating glycolipid. Affinity chromatography on wheat germ agglutinin immobilized on to agarose beads results in two glycoproteins with a molecular weight of 17200 and 31300, respectively, as determined by SDS-PAGE (polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis). They differ markedly in their sialic acid content. All of the neuraminic acid is terminally bound and exclusively N-acetylated.