Analysis of developing enamel of the rat III. Carbohydrate, DEAE-sephadex, and immunological studies

Carbohydrate analyses showed L-fucose, D-xylose, D-mannose, D-arabinose, N-acetyl glucosamine, N-acetyl galactosamine, N-acetyl mannosamine, glucuronic acid and several unknown species to be present in the immature enamel or in one of its fractions. The concentration of carbohydrates was greatest in the water-extractable fraction and next greatest in the water-insoluble fraction. The water-extractable, EDTA-water-soluble, and water-insoluble fractions each differed in their spectrum of carbohydrates. With DEAE-Sephadex fractionation at pH 5.5, the water-extractable fraction was separated partially into 7 peaks. Four fractions were recovered from the 7 peaks, each of which differed from the others in amino acid and carbohydrate content and in polyacrylamide gel characteristics. Immunoelectrophoretic procedures showed that antibodies will develop against the EDTA-water-soluble fraction.