MUCOPOLYSACCHARIDES AND GLYCOPROTEINS OF AVIAN SKIN: COMPARISONS OF METHODS OF ISOLATION AND ANALYSES OF FRACTIONS

Abstract

Mucopolysaccharide peptide complexes were isolated from avian skin by enzymatic (pepsin–trypsin or papain) hydrolytic procedures each followed by two ways of precipitation: (a) step-wise addition of ethanol or (b) addition of cetyl pyridinium chloride solution and ethanol. Respective precipitates predominantly contained (a) mucopolysaccharide–peptide complex(es) and (b) carbohydrate part of glycoprotein–peptide complex(es). The fractions were analyzed for hexosamine, hexuronic acid and sugars. The results indicated (a) that avian skin contains substantial amounts of both mucopolysaccharides and glycoproteins and (b) that pepsin–trypsin and papain hydrolyses were capable of liberating from avian skin comparable amounts of materials. Gas–liquid chromatography of the fractions indicated that glucosamine, glucuronic acid and galactose are more prevalent than galactosamine, galacturonic acid and mannose.