title: Alterations of the glycan moiety of human alpha 1-acid glycoprotein in late-term pregnancy.
abstract: The carbohydrate moiety of purified alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) from healthy male adults (AGPn) and late-term pregnant women (AGPp) was analysed. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with sodium dodecyl sulfate before and after N-glycanase treatment showed that AGPp had a slightly higher molecular mass due to an enriched carbohydrate moiety. BIO-GEL P-4 and Concanavalin A (Con A)-Sepharose chromatography of the oligosaccharides released by hydrazinolysis and fractionated by high-voltage electrophoresis indicated a progression towards Con A-unbound oligosaccharides and towards larger glycans in pregnancy. Carbohydrate analysis of purified AGPp and AGPn and of the most increased oligosaccharide fraction (F4A) evidenced a decrease in the fucosyl molar ratio and a slight increase in the galactosyl, N-acetyl-glucosaminyl and N-acetyl neuraminyl ratios. These results suggest that AGP contains more highly branched oligosaccharides and/or additional N-acetyllactosamine-type oligosaccharides in pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: UER des Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques Chatenay-Malabry, Paris, France.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Biou
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bauvy
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: N'Guyen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Codogno
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Durand
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aubery
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000581:Amidohydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D002236:Carbohydrate Conformation; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D003208:Concanavalin A; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007122:Immunoelectrophoresis; D008297:Male; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D009961:Orosomucoid / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D043524:Peptide-N4-(N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminyl) Asparagine Amidase; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D009844:Oligosaccharides; D009961:Orosomucoid; D011134:Polysaccharides; D003208:Concanavalin A; D000581:Amidohydrolases; D043524:Peptide-N4-(N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminyl) Asparagine Amidase