Structure of an unusual complex-type oligosaccharide isolated from Chinese hamster ovary cells

An asparagine-linked oligosaccharide with an unusual structure has been isolated from Pronase digests of Chinese hamster ovary cell glycoproteins using gel filtration, ion exchange chromatography, and affinity chromatography on lectin-Sepharose columns. The oligosaccharide contained approximately 7.5% of the total cellular glycopeptide galactose and 1.3% of the mannose. The structure of the oligosaccharide was determined by the combination of methylation analysis and digestion with exo- and endo-glycosidases. The oligosaccharide has predominantly a triantennary structure consisting of repeating [Galβ1 → 4GlcNAcβ1 → 3] units in the outer branches linked to a trimannosyl-di-N,N′-acetyl-chitobiose core. It resembles oligosaccharides present on human erythrocyte glycoproteins and corneal keratan sulfate.