The isolation of sialyllactosides with the aid of gel filtration

A method is described for the isolation from colostrum of oligosaccharides containing sialic acid. The sugars are extracted in a two-phase chloroform-methanol-water system. The sialyloligosaccharides are purified by column chromatography on Sephadex G-25. Further separation is obtained by ion-exchange and silica gel chromatography. The isolated compounds have been characterized by partial hydrolysis and periodate oxidation. The isolation and characterization of disialyllactose ( N-acetylneuraminyl-(2 → 8)- N-acetylneuraminyl-(2 → 3)-galactopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-glucopyranoside) is described.