N-Glycan Isomer Differentiation by Zero Flow Capillary Electrophoresis Coupled to Mass Spectrometry

Anal Chem. 2022 Sep 27;94(38):12954-12959. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c02840. Epub 2022 Sep 13.

Abstract

Isomeric N-glycans often vastly differ in their biological activities, hence the need for methods that allow resolving and structurally characterizing them in biological material. Here, we established a zero flow approach using capillary electrophoresis in combination with (tandem) mass spectrometry to allow structural characterization of isomeric N-glycans at high sensitivity. Additionally, diagnostic fragment ion ratios were identified, indicative for the antenna carrying specifically linked sialic acids. In total, 208 N-glycans were characterized in human plasma, with 57 compositions showing multiple isomers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Electrophoresis, Capillary* / methods
  • Humans
  • Isomerism
  • Polysaccharides / chemistry
  • Sialic Acids
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry* / methods

Substances

  • Polysaccharides
  • Sialic Acids