title: The chemistry of carcinoembryonic antigen.
abstract: The structure of carcinoembryonic antigen is being determined as an approach to greater diagnostic specificity in the radioimmune assay. Examination by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of derivatized saccharides from CEA has given a general outline of its carbohydrate structure. Sialic acid and fucose were completely destroyed, and galactose and mannose were partially destroyed by a single periodate treatment. Serial periodate oxidation (Smith degradation) destroyed additional amounts of galactose and mannose, as well as significant amounts of N-acetylglucosamine. Antigenic activity persisted, indicating that the residues destroyed played little, if any, part in the antigenicity of DEA.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002621:Chemistry; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010504:Periodic Acid / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D010504:Periodic Acid