Mucin glycopeptides were prepared from the respiratory mucus of a non-secretor, chronic bronchitis patient with blood group O, Le^a+b−. Oligosaccharides were released by alkaline-borohydride treatment and purified by anion-exchange chromatography, size exclusion chromatography, and HPLC on a silica-bonded alkylamine column. Structural studies employed 500-MHz ¹H-NMR spectroscopy, fast-atom-bombardment mass spectrometry and methylation analysis. Twenty-four neutral oligosaccharides, ranging in size from disaccharides to hexasaccharides, were fully characterized in this study. None of the structures contained an α(1→2)-linked fucose residue, in keeping with the non-secretor status of the patient. Seven of the structures had fucose present in α(1→3)-linkage in the X-determinant, while only one oligosaccharide (compound 14b) was seen with fucose α(1→4)-linked in the Le^a determinant. The following eight structures isolated from the mucins of the non-secretor patient had not been found previously in the mucins of secretor individuals:

This study confirms that the blood group status of an individual is reflected in the carbohydrate structures of the secreted mucins. Furthermore, it clearly illustrates the need for detailed carbohydrate structural studies of mucins from different individuals before any attempt can be made to correlate observed differences in oligosaccharide profiles to disease status.