Isolation and characterization of a glycoprotein from human colostrum

A glycoprotein was isolated from the M-1 acid glycoprotein fraction of human colostrum. It had a molecular weight of 31200 and contained 27% galactose, 21.7% hexosamine, 8.0% fucose and 10.8% sialic acid by weight. The glycoprotein had no absorption maxima in the 240-300nm region, and was virtually free of ABH(O) and M and N blood-group activity. Alkaline borohydride cleavage of the glycoprotein resulted predominantly in the destruction of threonine and galactosamine.