a-D-Mannopyranosyl and a-D-mannopyranosyl-(1->2)-a-D-mannopyranosyl linked to L-serine and L-threonine have been synthesized as model substances for the linkage region in certain O-linked glycoproteins. Metropolis Monte Carlo simulations were performed with a modified version of the GESA program, to yield theor. NOEs and interat. distances as ensemble-av. values, and these were compared with results from steady-state NOE expts. The NOEs were detd. as ensemble-av. and as global min. values. NMR chem. shift differences, obtained for signals of the glycopeptides relative to those of the resp. monomers, were interpreted in terms of short inter-residue at. distances as found within the global min., and on the basis of averaged distances derived from Monte Carlo simulations. [on SciFinder (R)]