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Glycosidases in the Mammalian Alimentary Tract

Abstract

EPITHELIAL mucous secretions in mammals are comprised mainly of mucosubstances1 consisting of some or all of the carbohydrates, glucosamine, galactosamine, galactose, fucose and sialic acid bound to protein2. In some secretions there are also small amounts of acidic aminopolysaccharides containing hexosamine, uronic acid and sometimes ester sulphate. Mucosubstances with the above composition, but excluding sialic acid, resemble blood-group substances, and fractions with high blood-group activity have been obtained from various secretions, including gastric juice, as well as from gastric mucosa.

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References

  1. Bettelheim-Jevons, F. R., Advances in Protein Chem., 13, 35 (Academic Press, New York, 1958).

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  2. Werner, I., Acta Soc. Med. Upsaliensis, 58, 1 (1953).

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CONCHIE, J., MACDONALD, D. Glycosidases in the Mammalian Alimentary Tract. Nature 184, 1233 (1959). https://doi.org/10.1038/1841233a0

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