Two chromatographical
systems for the separation and determination of glucosami~e and gakctosamine are described. IEI the more rapid and less sensitive of the two systems, the hexosemines are treated with toluene sulphonyl chioride and subsequently separated in a reversed-phase system. In this mode O-4-5Opg of the hexosamines are chromatographed within 10 min. IQ the second and more sensitive system, the hexosamines are treated with Dns-Cl and subsequently chromatographed in a similar reversed-phase column. With this method, the separation of 0.02-2 pg is possible within 25 min. When internal standard was -used, the procedure was lengthened by CQ. 10 min. Both determinations can also be used when there are large differences in the relative amounts of the two hexosamines.
INTJXODUClTON
The separation and characterization of hexosamines is of great importance in the study of glywsaminoglycans as well as in that of glycoproteins and glyeolipids. D-Glucosamine and D-galactosamine and their N-acetylated derivatives are the most frequently encountered of these aminoglycans. A variety of methods, including ion-exchange chromatography112, thin-layer chromatography ('FLC)3, paper chromatographfl and gas-liquid chromatography5, have been described for