Abstract
Hexa to dodecasaccharide-alditols of the jelly coat surrounding the eggs of the toad Bufo bufo were studied by methylation analysis, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, and 1H-NMR spectroscopy. These highly species-specific carbohydrate chains exhibit new structural features, such as the elongation of the blood group A determinant with an external α-1,3-linked galactose unit, or ramification belonging from a fucosylated galactose. The most representative oligosaccharide-alditol of the series was defined as following: Since the jellies surrounding amphibian eggs are involved in egg-sperm interactions, these structural investigations can provide biochemical support for exploring the fertilization process.

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