Structural studies on rabbit transferrin: isolation and characterization of the glycopeptides

The structure of rabbit transferrin was investigated with regard to number, size, and composition of the heteropolysaccharide units and their relative location on the polypeptide chain. The composition and molecular weight of the Pronase glycopeptides revealed that rabbit transferrin contains two heteropolysaccharide units, each composed of 2 sialic acid residues, 2 galactose residues, 3 mannose residues, and 4-N-acetylglucosamine residues. The composition and molecular weight of the tryptic glycopeptides further substantiated the existence of two identical heteropolysaccharide units and revealed that both units have identical amino acid residues in the immediate vicinity of the carbohydrate attachment sites to the polypeptide chain, suggesting a sequence homology surrounding the two glycosylation sites. Characterization of the cyanogen bromide fragments from rabbit transferrin indicated that both heteropolysaccharide units are located within a single polypeptide fragment representing approximately one-third of the molecule.