Biosynthesis of glycoproteins by membranes of Acer pseudoplatanus. Incorporation of mannose and N-acetylglucosamine.

Membrane preparations from Acer pseudoplatanus suspension cultures were demonstrated to incorporate radioactivity from GDP-[U-14C]mannose and UDP-N-acetyl-[6-(3)H]glucosamine into high-molecular-weight polymers characterized as glycoprotein. From 20 to 25% of the 14C was incorporated as fucose with the remainder as mannose, whereas 90% of the 3H was incorporated as N-acetylglucosamine with the remainder as N-acetylgalactosamine. Pronase digestion yielded radioactive glycopeptides that were separated into four fractions by gel-permeation chromatography and paper electrophoresis. The isolated glycopeptides differed in molecular weight and isotopes incorporated, as well as in amino-acid and monosaccharide composition. The membrane preparation also incorporated radioactivity from the added nucleotides into chloroform/methanol (2:1, v/v)- and chloroform/methanol/water (10:10:3, by vol.)-soluble lipids, and into an insoluble pellet.