Altered synthesis of glucosamine-labelled glycopeptides during postimplantation embryogenesis of the mouse

Dissected mouse embryos were examined for the ability to synthesize (3H)glucosamine-labeled embryoglycan, which is the glycoprotein-bound large carbohydrate eluted near the excluded volume of a Sephadex G-50 column. Although the ratio of glucosamine-label incorporated into embryoglycan decreased progressively during embryogenesis, 11- and 12-day-old embryos still synthesized significant amounts of the glycan. Severe inhibition of the glycan synthesis was noticed after the 15th day. Therefore, synthesis of the core portion of embryoglycan was suppressed later than when fucosylation of the glycan was known to be suppressed. (author)