ORIGINAL A RTICLE Chemical characterization of milk oligosaccharides of the island flying fox (Pteropus hypomelanus) (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae)

ABSTRACT Although a considerable amount of information has accumulated about oligosaccharides in the milk and colostrum ofrepresentatives of various mammalian orders, nothing is so far known concerning these sugars in the milk of any batspecies (order Chiroptera). In this study, we determined that the following oligosaccharides occur in milk of theisland flying fox, Pteropus hypomelanus (Chiroptera: Pteropidae): Gal(a1–3)Gal(b1–4)Glc (isoglobotriose),Gal(b1–4)GlcNAc(b1–3)Gal(b1–4)Glc (lacto-N-neotetraose), Gal(b1–4)GlcNAc(b1–3)[Gal(b1–4)GlcNAc(b1–6)]Gal(b1–4)Glc(lacto-N-neohexaose) and Neu5Gc(a2–3)Gal(b1–4)Glc (3′-NGc-SL). However, lactose was found to be the dominantsaccharide in this milk, as in most eutherian mammals. The biologic importance of oligosaccharides in Chiropteran milkswarrants further study. Key words: bat , Chiroptera island flying fox , milk oligosaccharides Pteropidae . INTRODUCTION The milk of eutherian mammals usually containslactose as a dominant saccharide (Jenness