Neuraminic acid. VI. Acetylneuraminic acids in lamprey liver and eggs, and in eggs from two teleostei species

Abstract

The acylneuraminic acids (or sialic acids) from the eggs and liver of the cyclostomata Petromyzon marines (sea lamprey), a primi­tive vertebrate, have been isolated and cha­racterized. In view of establishing a compa­rison, the acylneuraminic acids from the eggs of two other more evolved fish species (Scomber scombrus and Cycloptcrus lumpus), belonging to the class of the teleostei, have been studied in the same manner. The re­sults are very similar: In all four analyzed materials we have found chiefly the N-acetyl-neuraminic acid (NANA), accompanied by a small concentration of pluriacetylneuraminic acids, but not the N-glycolylneuraminic acid (NGNA). These acids appeared only bound in the first three materials, and also free in a very weak concentration in the case of the fourth product.