Derivatization of carbohydrates for analysis by chromatography; electrophoresis and mass spectrometry

Carbohydrates display a large diversity of structures and their analysis presents many obstacles as the result of properties such as isomeric diversity, existence of branched structures and the lack of chromophores or fluorophores. Consequently, many analytical approaches depend on the application of chemical modifications such as hydrolysis or derivative formation. This review covers various aspects of derivatization that are used for such approaches as improving thermal stability and volatility for gas-phase analyses, introduction of fluorophores for optical detectors, introduction of charge for mass spectral analyses and attachment of bioaffinity tags for bioactivity studies. Reducing carbohydrates contain, in addition to multiple hydroxyl groups, several other sites for derivatization such as the single anomeric site that has been used in numerous methods for attaching various property-enhancing tags. Other sites are restricted to specific carbohydrates but include carboxy groups in sialic acids and amino groups in glycosylamines. All of these groups have been the targets of derivatization and this review attempts to summarise the main methods used for these various functional groups.     

Recent advances in sialic acid-focused glycomics

Recent emergences of glycobiology, glycotechnology and glycomics have been clarifying enormous roles of carbohydrates in biological recognition systems. For example, cell surface carbohydrates existing as glycoconjugates (glycolipids, glycoproteins and proteoglycans) play crucial roles in cell-cell communication, cell proliferation and differentiation, tumor metastasis, inflammatory response or viral infection. In particular, sialic acids (SAs) existing as terminal residues in carbohydrate chains on cell surface are involved in signal recognition and adhesion to ligands, antibodies, enzymes and microbes. In addition, plasma free SAs and sialoglycans have shown great potential for disease biomarker discovery. Therefore, the development of efficient analytical methods for structural and functional studies of SAs and sialylglycans are very important and highly demanded. The problems of SAs and sialylglycans analysis are vanishingly small sample amount, complicated and unstable structures, and complex mixtures. Nevertheless, in the past decade, mass spectrometry in combination with chemical derivatization and modern separation methodologies has become a powerful and versatile technique for structural analysis of SAs and sialylglycans. This review summarizes these recent advances in glycomic studies on SAs and sialylglycans. Specially, derivatization and capturing of SAs and sialylglycans combined with mass spectrometry analysis are highlighted.     

不同结构类型糖类物质的荧光标记策略

为阐明糖链结构与功能的关系,寻找高灵敏度和高分离度的微量分析方法对糖 类物质的分析至关重要.近几年来,荧光标记方法作为糖类物质的色谱定量及辅助结 构分析的最佳选择,日益受到人们的广泛关注.荧光标记法分为柱前标记和柱后标记 两种,且灵敏度高、分离度好、有多种标记试剂可供选择.本文根据不同糖类物质的 结构特点,分别对中性糖和氨基糖以及含有唾液酸、糖醛酸、硫酸基的酸性糖的荧光 标记方法及其应用进行了系统的综述,并对近年来报道的荧光标记试剂的特点和反应 机理进行了比较和总结,以期为糖类物质微量分析方法的研究提供参考.     

A bioanalytical method to determine the cell wall composition of Mycobacterium tuberculosis grown in vivo

Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacilli exhibit cell wall alterations during in vivo growth. Development of ultrasensitive analytical techniques with high specificities is required to analyze the cell wall of M. tuberculosis isolated from experimental animals because of the low amounts of bacteria available and contamination by host tissue. Here we present a novel methodology to analyze all three major components (mycolic acids, arabinogalactan, and peptidoglycan) of the mycobacterial cell wall from mycobacteria isolated from animal tissue. In this procedure, the cell wall carbohydrates are analyzed by gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (GC/MS/MS) of alditol acetates, the peptidoglycan by GC/MS (mass spectrometry) analysis of the unique amino acid diaminopimelic acid (after derivatization with isopropyl chloroformate), and the mycolic acids by liquid chromatography (LC)/MS (negative ion) without derivatization. The procedure was designed so that all three analyses could be performed starting with a single sample given the difficulty of preparing multiple aliquots in known ratios. Linkage analysis, including an enantiomeric specific procedure, of the arabinogalactan polymer is also presented. These procedures will enable the determination of the cell wall alterations known to occur in the important nongrowing "dormant" M. tuberculosis present during disease. With some adaptations, the methodology is also applicable to the analysis of small amounts of in vivo grown bacteria of other species.     

Capillary electrophoresis of carbohydrates

Capillary electrophoresis has emerged as a highly promisingtechnique for the analysis of mono- and oligosaccharides. Theapproaches developed for overcoming the lack of chromophoricand fluorophoric functions in most carbohydrates involve theuse of indirect photometric detection, amperometry, mass spectrometry,and precolumn derivatization with various tags. The merits anddrawbacks of the derivatizing agents, including 2-aminopyridine,4-amino-benzoic acid and its analogues, which for the firsttime permitted the reproducible determination of aldoses, uronicacids and even ketoses in the low femtomole range by means ofreadily available UV detection, and other agents such as 8-aminonaphthalene-1,3,6-trisulphonicacid, 1-phenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone and 3-(4-carboxybenzoyl)-2-quinoline-carboxaldehyde,are discussed in detail. Means to secure electromigration ofthe usually neutral carbohydrates are: (i) ionization of hydroxylgroups at high pH; (ii) complexation of vicinal or alternatehydroxyl groups with borate or other charged compounds suchas alkaline earth metal ions; (iii) derivatization with a reagentpossessing ionizable functions; and (iv) partitioning into apseudostationary phase such as sodium dodecyl sulphate micelles.Each alternative has its own analytical rewards, and combinationsof the above mechanisms allow the two-dimensional and perhapseven three-dimensional mapping of oligosaccharides. Pyridylaminatedoligosaccharides, for instance, have been separated both accordingto size by exploiting differences in the charge-to-mass ratio,with the charge being identical for each oligomer under acidicconditions due to protonation of the imino group incorporatedby precolumn derivatization, as well as on the basis of structuraldifferences, as a consequence of differences in the ease ofborate complexation of the peripheral monosaccharide residues.It is also shown that the 4-aminobenzonitrile derivatives ofmono- and disaccharides can be separated by micellar electrokineticchromatography with a resolving power superior to that achievedby capillary zone electrophoresis of sugar-borate complexes.Based on the progress made, it can be concluded that capillaryelectrophoresis represents a powerful alternative and complementto existing methodology in the area of carbohydrate analysis. borate complexation capillary zone electrophoresis micellar electrokinetic chromatography precolumn derivatization     

Proteomic analysis of glycosylation: structural determination of N- and O-linked glycans by mass spectrometry

This review summarizes the methods, mainly based on mass spectrometry, for the structural determination of N- and O-linked carbohydrates that are post-translationally attached to a large number of proteins and which play a key role in determining the function and biophysical properties of these compounds. Analysis of these carbohydrates has proved difficult in the past due to their structural complexity. However, modern analytical methods such as mass spectrometry have the ability to elucidate most structural details at the concentration levels required for proteomics. This review describes methods for direct examination of glycoproteins by mass spectrometry, the release of N- and O-linked glycans from glycoproteins separated in sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide electrophoresis gels, and the analysis of these compounds by techniques such as matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry provides the most rapid method for comparing glycan profiles and is probably most appropriate for clinical studies. One of the most promising techniques for determining the structures of N-glycans in proteomic studies is negative ion fragmentation of electrosprayed ions. This technique combines high throughput with ease of structural interpretation and provides structural details that are difficult to obtain by classical methods.     

Chemical ionization mass spectrometry of trimethylsilylated carbohydrates and organic acids retained in uremic serum

After appropriate sample pretreatment and derivatization, uremic serum was investigated by combined high resolution gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, using both electron impact and chemical ionization methods. Electron impact and chemical ionization spectra of a number of identified (trimethylsilylated) carbohydrates and organic acids are compared. The utilization of chemical ionization mass spectrometry, with isobutane as the reagent gas, is discussed in detail. The influence of the reagent gas pressure on the total ion current and on the spectral appearance was studied. The identification of compounds, based on electron impact mass spectral data, was confirmed and often aided appreciably by using this technique. The chemical ionization spectra of trimethylsilyated alditols and aldonic acids, as well as of other organic acids showed protonated molecular ions, whereas aldoses did not. Differences with electron impact spectra are found mainly in the high mass region. The loss of one or more trimethylsilanol groups becomes the predominating fragmentation route at higher reagent gas pressures.     

Characterization of Salmonella and possible interfering strains using GC profiling and factor analysis

Fatty acid methyl ester data of Salmonella and potentially interfering strains obtained by derivatization gas chromatography were investigated with principal components and factor-discriminant analysis. Salmonella strains could be distinguished using both data-handling techniques. The biochemical basis for this characterization was found to be in strong agreement with the higher mass range part of pyrolysis — direct chemical ionization mass spectrometric data representing diglyceride information. The quality of the analytical procedure as judged by longer term reproducibility and component assignment was found to be good. In combination with sophisticated data-handling methods this derivatization gas chromatographic approach can be a useful diagnostic tool for Salmonella characterization.     

Chemical cross-linking and mass spectrometry for protein structural modeling

The growth of gene and protein sequence information is currently so rapid that three-dimensional structural information is lacking for the overwhelming majority of known proteins. In this review, efforts towards rapid and sensitive methods for protein structural characterization are described, complementing existing technologies. Based on chemical cross-linking and offering the analytical speed and sensitivity of mass spectrometry these methodologies are thought to contribute valuable tools towards future high throughput protein structure elucidation.     

Determination of amphetamine and methamphetamine enantiomers by chiral derivatization and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry as a test case for an automated sample preparation system

An automated sample preparation system has been applied to the chiral analysis of amphetamine and methamphetamine using derivatization with trifluoracetyl-L -prolyl chloride (L -TPC) and subsequent separation on a gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) system. Tasks automated were the dilution of standards and the off-line preparation of the diastereoisomer derivatives. Chromatographic performance, sensitivity, and reproducibility of the automated procedure were compared to the equivalent values obtained with two existing assays methods which employ manual derivatiation, either on-column or off-line. Chromatographic performance was unaffected by the derivatization procedure and sensitivity was better for both automated and manual off-line derivatization. Qualitative reproducibility as based on enantiomeric composition was equivalent for all three approaches, while quantitative reproducibility as based on peak areas was best for the automated procedure. Considering the fact that the diastereoisomer derivatives are unstable over time, automated sample preparation with “just-in-time” derivatization can increase the overall precision of the analytical method. The procedures described here are general enough in nature that they could be applied to other chiral or even achiral analytes. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Structural Characterization of Carbohydrates by Fourier Transform Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Fourier transform tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) provides high mass accuracy, high sensitivity, and analytical versatility and has therefore emerged as an indispensable tool for structural elucidation of biomolecules. Glycosylation is one of the most common posttranslational modifications, occurring in ~50% of proteins. However, due to the structural diversity of carbohydrates, arising from non-template driven biosynthesis, achievement of detailed structural insight is highly challenging. This review briefly discusses carbohydrate sample preparation and ionization methods, and highlights recent developments in alternative high-resolution MS/MS strategies, including infrared multiphoton dissociation (IRMPD), electron capture dissociation (ECD), and electron detachment dissociation (EDD), for carbohydrates with a focus on glycans and proteoglycans from mammalian glycoproteins.     

Determination of 1-phenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone-labeled carbohydrates by liquid chromatography and micellar electrokinetic chromatography

In this paper, the method for the derivatization of carbohydrates with 1-phenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone (PMP) was simplified. One-third of the derivatization time was saved. Five monosaccharide derivatives have been well separated by MEKC and HPLC under optimized conditions. Good reproducibility could be obtained with relative standard deviation (RSD) values of the migration times within 5.0 and 2.3%, respectively. Furthermore, the developed methods have been successfully applied to the analysis of carbohydrates in Aloe powder and food. These methods are quite useful for routine analysis of monosaccharides and oligosaccharides in real samples.     

Gas chromatographic—mass spectrometric methods of analysis for detection of 11-nor-Δ-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid in biological matrices

Gas chromatographic—mass spectrometric methods of analysis for the detection of 11-nor-Δ⁹-tetrahydrocinnabinol-9-carboxylic acid, a major metabolite of Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol, are reviewed. Emphasis is on analytical methodology including numerous derivatization techniques developed specifically for this analyte. The majority of procedures cited in the literature were developed to detect this metabolite in the blood and urine of man.     

EXPLOSIVE RADIATION OR CRYPTIC MASS EXTINCTION? INTERPRETING SIGNATURES IN MOLECULAR PHYLOGENIES

How biodiversity is generated and maintained underlies many major questions in evolutionary biology, particularly relating to the tempo and pattern of diversification through time. Molecular phylogenies and new analytical methods provide additional tools to help interpret evolutionary processes. Evolutionary rates in lineages sometimes appear punctuated, and such "explosive" radiations are commonly interpreted as adaptive, leading to causative key innovations being sought. Here we argue that an alternative process might explain apparently rapid radiations ("broom-and-handle" or "stemmy" patterns seen in many phylogenies) with no need to invoke dramatic increase in the rate of diversification. We use simulations to show that mass extinction events can produce the same phylogenetic pattern as that currently being interpreted as due to an adaptive radiation. By comparing simulated and empirical phylogenies of Australian and southern African legumes, we find evidence for coincident mass extinctions in multiple lineages that could have resulted from global climate change at the end of the Eocene.     

抗体固定化方法研究进展

在免疫分析和生物芯片中,抗原-抗体特异性结合被广泛应用,其中抗体的固定化是研发高效诊断和分离工具的关键环节。生物分子工程、材料化学与交联剂化学的进步极大地促进了抗体固定化技术的发展。 抗体可以通过物理吸附、共价偶联和亲和相互作用固定到不同类型的固相表面。 抗体固定化的目标是以一种正确的空间取向将抗体固定到固相表面,在完全保留抗体构象和活性的同时最大化抗原的结合能力,这对固相化抗体的分析性能至关重要。 对固定抗体到固相载体表面的各种最新方法进行了阐述,包括物理吸附法,通过羧基、氨基、巯基、糖基和点击化学的共价结合法以及基于生物亲和作用的固定法,并对固定化抗体的表征方法进行了归纳,最后对抗体固定化方法的发展方向进行了展望。     

Chemical derivatization and mass spectral libraries in metabolic profiling by GC/MS and LC/MS/MS

An overview is presented of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS), the two major hyphenated techniques employed in metabolic profiling that complement direct 'fingerprinting' methods such as atmospheric pressure ionization (API) quadrupole time-of-flight MS, API Fourier transform MS, and NMR. In GC/MS, the analytes are normally derivatized prior to analysis in order to reduce their polarity and facilitate chromatographic separation. The electron ionization mass spectra obtained are reproducible and suitable for library matching, mass spectral collections being readily available. In LC/MS, derivatization and library matching are at an early stage of development and mini-reviews are provided. Chemical derivatization can dramatically increase the sensitivity and specificity of LC/MS methods for less polar compounds and provides additional structural information. The potential of derivatization for metabolic profiling in LC/MS is demonstrated by the enhanced analysis of plant extracts, including the potential to measure volatile acids such as formic acid, difficult to achieve by GC/MS. The important role of mass spectral library creation and usage in these techniques is discussed and illustrated by examples.     

Neutral, acidic, and basic derivatives of anthranilamide that confer different formal charge to reducing oligosaccharides

To facilitate the use of oligosaccharides as analytical tools in biological studies, we have designed, synthesized, and conjugated to maltosaccharides a novel series of homologous small fluorescent moieties that differ in formal charge. These moieties are amide derivatives of anthranilic acid: uncharged N-(2-aminobenzoyl)glycinamide (ABGlyAmide; 2), acidic N,N-dimethyl-N(')-(2-aminobenzoyl)ethylenediamine (ABGlyDIMED; 3), and basic N-(2-aminobenzoyl)glycine (ABGly; 1). Routes for synthesis and optimal reaction conditions for glycoconjugation by conventional reductive amination are presented, as is the compatibility of these adducts with common analytical and preparative chromatographic methods, including RP-HPLC and HPAEC-PAD. These novel anthranilic acid derivatives confer both fluorescence and defined charge to oligosaccharides, and so enhance the repertoire of chromatographic and analytical methods for which anthranilic acid can be used. Furthermore, because glucosaccharides have rigid solution structure, these small fluorescent adducts with different formal charge are ideal tools for molecular sizing studies of membrane pores.     

N-糖肽的规模化质谱解析方法进展

蛋白质糖基化修饰的鉴定是蛋白质翻译后修饰分析中最具挑战性的任务之一,近几年尤其受到关注.快速发展的质谱技术为规模化的蛋白质糖基化修饰研究提供了有效的手段.与其他基于质谱技术的翻译后修饰鉴定相比,糖基化鉴定的难点在于糖链是大分子而且存在微观不均一性,另外糖链本身可以在串联质谱中碎裂且与肽段的碎裂规律不同,导致蛋白质组学的质谱解析方法和软件难以完整地鉴定肽段序列和糖链结构.完整N-糖肽的鉴定是糖基化分析的热点内容之一,针对N-糖肽的鉴定,近年来,人们开发了多种多样的质谱解析方法,其中包括用N-糖酰胺酶切除糖链后鉴定N-糖基化位点的方法、基于电子转运裂解的糖肽肽段鉴定、基于高能碰撞裂解与电子转运裂解联用或碰撞诱导裂解与三级谱联用的完整N-糖肽鉴定等等.本文对这些质谱解析方法进行了整理和综述,简要指出了目前完整糖肽鉴定软件存在的一些不足,展望了未来的发展方向.     

Challenges in mass spectrometry-based proteomics

During the last decade, protein analysis and proteomics have been established as new tools for understanding various biological problems. As the identification of proteins after classical separation techniques, such as two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, have become standard methods, new challenges arise in the field of proteomics. The development of "functional proteomics" combines functional characterization, like regulation, localization and modification, with the identification of proteins for deeper insight into cellular functions. Therefore, different mass spectrometric techniques for the analysis of post-translational modifications, such as phosphorylation and glycosylation, have been established as well as isolation and separation methods for the analysis of highly complex samples, e.g. protein complexes or cell organelles. Furthermore, quantification of protein levels within cells is becoming a focus of interest as mass spectrometric methods for relative or even absolute quantification have currently not been available. Protein or genome databases have been an essential part of protein identification up to now. Thus, de novo sequencing offers new possibilities in protein analytical studies of organisms not yet completely sequenced. The intention of this review is to provide a short overview about the current capabilities of protein analysis when addressing various biological problems.     

Accelerated identification of proteins by mass spectrometry by employing covalent pre-gel staining with Uniblue A

Background

The identification of proteins by mass spectrometry is a standard method in biopharmaceutical quality control and biochemical research. Prior to identification by mass spectrometry, proteins are usually pre-separated by electrophoresis. However, current protein staining and de-staining protocols are tedious and time consuming, and therefore prolong the sample preparation time for mass spectrometry.

Methodology and Principal Findings

We developed a 1-minute covalent pre-gel staining protocol for proteins, which does not require de-staining before the mass spectrometry analysis. We investigated the electrophoretic properties of derivatized proteins and peptides and studied their behavior in mass spectrometry. Further, we elucidated the preferred reaction of proteins with Uniblue A and demonstrate the integration of the peptide derivatization into typical informatics tools.

Conclusions and Significance

The Uniblue A staining method drastically speeds up the sample preparation for the mass spectrometry based identification of proteins. The application of this chemo-proteomic strategy will be advantageous for routine quality control of proteins and for time-critical tasks in protein analysis.