Characterization of N-linked gluco-oligomannose type of carbohydrate chains of glycoproteins from the ovary of the starfish Asterias rubens (L.). Glycoproteins were isolated from the ovary of the starfish Asterias rubens (L.). After delipidation, sugar analysis revealed the presence of mannose, glucose and N-acetylglucosamine in a molar ratio of 9.0:1.3:2.3. Subsequently, hydrazinolysis, re-N-acetylation, reduction and high-voltage paper electrophoresis were carried out, resulting in a mixture of neutral oligosaccharide alditols which was fractionated on Bio-Gel P-4. The alditols, investigated by 500-MHz 1H-NMR spectroscopy, turned out to be of the oligomannose type or of the gluco-oligomannose type containing 9 mannose and 1-3 glucose residues. The most abundant compounds were established to be: (Formula: see text) and (Formula: see text).