Structure of six 3-deoxy-D-glycero-D-galacto-nonulosonic acid(Kdn)-containing oligosaccharide-alditols released from oviduct secretions of Ambystoma maculatum. Characterization of the sequence fucosyl(alpha 1-2)[fucosyl(alpha 1-3)]fucosyl(alpha 1-4)-3-deoxy-D-glycero-D-galacto-nonulosonic acid.

The O-linked acidic oligosaccharides of the jelly coat surrounding the eggs of Ambystoma maculatum were analyzed by NMR spectroscopy. The structures of the major oligosaccharides were established as follows where Kdn represents 3-deoxy-D-glycero-D-galacto-nonulsonic acid and GalNAc-ol is N-acetylgalactosaminitol: [sequence: see text] As shown for five other amphibian species, the structures of these carbohydrate chains appear to be species specific and can afford a basis for molecular taxonomy. These new sequences also reflect the occurrence of specific fucosyltransferase activities that are characteristic of Ambystoma maculatum.