STUDIES ON THE GLYCOSAMINOGLYCAN COMPONENT OF TRAIL MUCUS FROM THE TERRESTRIAL SLUG, ARION ATER L

The predominant carbohydrates in the glycosaminoglycan fraction of Arion ater mucus were identified as glucosamine, iduronic acid and galactose. The pattern of digestion of A. ater mucus with a series of polysaccharide lyases was consistent with its glycosaminoglycan fraction having the structure (beta GlcA1-4 alpha GlcN1-4 alpha-IdA1-4 alpha GlcN1-4)(n). Some glycosaminoglycan chains appeared to be linked to protein through GalN and/or GlcN, which would constitute novel protein-saccharide linkages, but others were linked through another, as yet unidentified, sugar (not xylitol or mannitol).