Structural studies of water-soluble glycoproteins from Cannabis sativa L.

Two carbohydrate-protein fractions, isolated from Cannabis sativa L. by extraction with water and chromatography of DEAE-cellulose, contained arabinose, galactose, glucose, mannose, galacturonic acid, 2-acetamido-2-deoxyglucose, and 2-acetamido-2-deoxygalactose. The structure of the carbohydrate moieties was investigated by methylation analysis and Smith degradation. A high percentage of end-groups indicates a large degree of branching, glucose and galactose being the main branch-points, linked at C-3 and C6. The hexoses are also present as unbranched residues in the chain, largely as (1 leads to 3)- and (1 leads to 4)-linked units and as end-groups. Arabinofuranosyl units constitute the main part of the non-reducing end-groups, and are also present as part of the chain. The polysaccharide chains are probably linked to protein through the hydroxyl group of hydroxyproline.