Carbohydrate composition of central nervous system synapses. Analysis of isolated synaptic junctional complexes and postsynaptic densities.

The composition of specialized structures present at synapses within the central nervous system was elucidated by biochemical analysis of fractions enriched in synaptic junctional complexes and postsynaptic densities. The results indicate that the synaptic junctional complex is primarily protein together with some glycoproteins. The synaptic junctional complex proteins are similar in amino acid composition to synaptic membrane proteins; they are not expecially rich in basic residues, as previously suggested. The major carbohydrates present in the synaptic junctional complex and postsynaptic density glycoproteins are mannose, galactose, and glucosamine, with lesser amounts of fucose, N-acetylneuraminic acid, and galactosamine. Comparison with the synaptic membrane fraction indicates that galactose is more concentrated in the synaptic junctional complex and mannose in the postsynaptic density. Glucose is dramatically enriched in both these fractions. Sucrose binding during isolation may partially account for the glucose enrichment.