J Biol Chem 1997 Apr 18;27216:10372-6. doi: 10.1074/jbc.272.16.10372.

Structure of the main saccharide chain in the acrosome reaction-inducing substance of the starfish, Asterias amurensis.

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The structure of the main saccharide chain of the acrosome reaction-inducing substance in the egg jelly coat of the starfish, Asterias amurensis, is composed of the following pentasaccharide repeating units (Structure I). A polymer consisting of 10-11 repeating units has been observed to induce the acrosome reaction in starfish sperm at high calcium concentrations. [STRUCTURE I:see text] The identities and linkage positions of constituent sugars were established using sugar, methylation, and sulfate analyses together with one- and two-dimensional nmr spectroscopy. The structure was supported by the data obtained for desulfation products and the Smith degradation of the polysaccharide.

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