ELECTROPHORETIC STUDIES ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF HEXOSAMINE IN PROTEINS OF THE THYROID GLAND

Abstract

THE existence of glycoproteins in the thyroid gland has been suggested on the basis of histochemical studies (Fisher, 1953; Glegg, Clermont, and Leblond, 1952; Gersh, 1950; Levine, 1950). With the exception of isolated glucosamine and hexose determinations on thyroglobulin (Bland Kassell and Heidelberger, 1939; Glegg, Clermont and Leblond, 1952) and the qualitative identification of mannose and galactose in whole thyroid tissue (Werner, 1953), few direct chemical studies have been applied to the distribution of sugars in the thyroid gland. In the course of a study on the distribution of hexosamines2 in body tissues, it was noted that thyroid glands contained relatively large concentrations of hexosamine (Boas, 1953). In order to interpret this and to identify the hexosamine-rich substance or substances in the thyroid, electrophoretic studies were carried out on extracts of hog thyroid. The distribution of hexoses and uronic acid were also studied in an attempt to characterize further the glycoproteins present.