Characterization by gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and proton-magnetic-resonance spectroscopy of pertrimethylsilyl methyl glycosides obtained in the methanolysis of glycoproteins and glycopeptides.

The quantitative analysis by gas chromatography of monosaccharides present in glycoproteins and glycopeptides using methanolysis, followed by re-N-acetylation and trimethylsilylation, gives rise to several peaks for each monosaccharide. The identity of these peaks for xylose, fucose, mannose, galactose, glucose, N-acetylglucosamine, N-acetylgalactosamine and N-acetylneuraminic acid was established for alpha- and beta-methyl pyranosides and furanosides by combined g.l.c.-mass spectrometry and proton-magnetic-resonance spectroscopy. These data provide for the unambiguous interpretation of the gas chromatograms obtained in the application of this g.l.c. method, and supply basic information for the further application of mass spectrometry in this field.     

Characterization of a biologically active arabinogalactan from the leaves of Plantago major L.

PMIa is a Type II arabinogalactan with anti-complementary activity isolated from the leaves of Plantago major L. It has a molecular weight of 77000–80000 Da and consists of arabinose (38%), galactose (49%), rhamnose (6%), galacturonic acid (7%) and 1.5% protein with hydroxyproline, alanine and serine as the main amino acids. Characterization of PMIa by methylation and GC-MS, methanolysis and GC, Smith degradation, weak acid hydrolysis, ¹³C-NMR, ¹H-NMR, two-dimensional heteronuclear NMR and DEPT show that it consists of 1,3-linked galactan chains with 1,6-linked galactan side chains attached to position 6. The side chains are further branched in position 3 with 1,3-linked galactose residues which have 1,6-linked galactose attached to position 6; these 1,3- and 1,6-linked galactose chains altogether probably form a network. Terminal and 1,5-linked arabinose in furanose form are attached to the galactan mainly through position 3 of the 1,6-linked galactose side chains.     

Studies on the carbohydrate moiety of α1-acid glycoprotein (orosomucoid) by using alkaline hydrolysis and deamination by nitrous acid

Alkaline hydrolysis followed by deamination with nitrous acid was applied for the first time to a glycoprotein, human plasma alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein (orosomucoid). This procedure, which specifically cleaves the glycosaminidic bonds, yielded well-defined oligosaccharides. The trisaccharides, which were obtained from the native protein, consisted of a sialic acid derivative, galactose and 2,5-anhydromannose. The linkage between galactose and 2,5-anhydromannose is most probably a (1-->4)-glycosidic bond. A hitherto unknown linkage between N-acetylneuraminic acid and galactose was also established, namely a (2-->2)-linkage. The three linkages between sialic acid and galactose described in this paper appear to be about equally resistant to mild acid hydrolysis. The disaccharide that was derived from the desialized glycoprotein consisted of galactose and 2,5-anhydromannose. Evidence was obtained for the presence of a new terminal sialyl-->N-acetylglucosamine disaccharide accounting for approximately 1mol/mol of protein. The presence of this disaccharide may explain the relatively severe requirements for the complete acid hydrolysis of the sialyl residues. The present study indicates that alkaline hydrolysis followed by nitrous acid deamination in conjunction with gas-liquid chromatography will afford relatively rapid determination of the partial structure of the complex carbohydrate moiety of glycoproteins.     

Determination of ganglioside non-hydroxy fatty acid and long chain base by analysis of perbenzoylated derivatives

The non-hydroxy fatty acid and long chain base compositions from as little as 2.7 nmol of ganglioside were ascertained from perbenzoylated ganglioside derivatives. Non-hydroxy fatty acids were determined by mild alkaline methanolysis of the derivatives, followed by gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) of the methyl esters. N-acyl and N-benzoyl "gangliosides" that were generated by the methanolysis were hydrolyzed by a standard procedure that utilized aqueous acetonitrile-HCl, followed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) determination of the biphenylcarbonyl derivatives with ultraviolet (UV) detection at 280 nm. A critical aspect of this procedure is a modified workup for the isolation of the biphenylcarbonyl derivatives which eliminates by-products that otherwise interfere with their separation by HPLC, especially when high sensitivity is required.     

Isolation and partial characterization of a novel disulfoglycosphingolipid from rat kidney

A novel sulfoglycosphingolipid containing two sulfate ester groups was isolated from the lipid extract of rat kidney by a procedure involving mild alkaline methanolysis and column chromatographies on DEAE-Sephacel and silicic acid. The component carbohydrates were galactose, glucose and $\text{N}$-acetylgalactosamine in equimolar amounts. Infrared spectroscopy, permethylation study, periodate oxidation and solvolysis suggested that the sulfoglycolipid was GalNAc1-4Gal1-4GlcCer sulfated at the C3 hydroxyls of both galactose and $\text{N}$-acetylgalactosamine. The yield of this sulfoglycolipid was 11.2 nmol/g tissue.     

Enhanced 3-O-sulfation of galactose in Asn-linked glycans and Maackia amurensis lectin binding in a new Chinese hamster ovary cell line

We report the characterization of two Chinese hamster ovary cell lines that produce large amounts of sulfated N-linked oligosaccharides. Clones 26 and 489 were derived by stable transfection of the glycosaminoglycan-deficient cell mutant pgsA-745 with a cDNA library prepared from wild-type cells. Peptide:N-glycanase F released nearly all of the sulfate label, indicating that sulfation had occurred selectively on the Asn-linked glycans. Hydrazinolysis followed by nitrous acid treatment at pH 4 and borohydride reduction yielded reduced sulfated disaccharides that comigrated with standard Gal3SO4beta1-4anhydromannitol. The disaccharides were resistant to periodate oxidation but became sensitive after the sulfate group was removed by methanolysis, indicating that the sulfate was located at C3 of the galactose residues. Maackia amurensis lectin bound to the sulfated glycopeptides on the cell surface and in free form, even after sialidase treatment. This finding indicates that the lectin requires only a charged group at C3 of the galactose unit and not an intact sialic acid. Growth of cells with chlorate restored sialidase sensitivity to lectin binding, indicating that sulfation and sialylation occurred largely at the same sites. The enhanced sulfation was due to elevated sulfotransferase activity that catalyzed transfer of sulfate from phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulfate to Galbeta1-4(3)GlcNAcbeta-O-naphthalenemethanol.     

Lipid analysis of Methanopyrus kandleri

Abstract Non-polar and polar lipids were isolated from Methanopyrus kandleri . Non-polar lipids accounted for 50% w/w of total lipids, with a high proportion of 2,3-di- O -geranylgeranyl-sn-glycerol, 2,3-di- O -phytanyl-sn-glycerol and geranylgeraniol. The core lipids prepared by mild acid methanolysis consisted exclusively of 2,3-di- O -phytanyl-sn-glycerol. Two-dimensional TLC showed mostly glycolipids, and minor amounts of aminophospholipids, phosphoglycolipids and phospholipids. The purification yielded three diglycosyl-lipids (50% of total polar lipids), one triglycosyl-lipid (5%) and six glycosyl-lipids with five glycosyl-groups (36%), which consisted of glucose, galactose and mannose. The lipid analysis supports the unique position of Methanopyrus kandleri within the 16S rRNA-based phylogenetic tree.     

Determination of the carbohydrate composition of mammalian glycoproteins by capillary gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

A technique to determine the carbohydrate composition of glycoproteins using capillary gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (electron impact) with selected ion monitoring is described. This method entails hydrolysis with methanolic-HCl followed by formation of trimethylsilyl methylglycoside derivatives, extraction of the carbohydrate derivatives into hexane, and GC/MS analysis. For those carbohydrates that are present in animal glycoproteins including fucose, mannose, galactose, glucosamine, galactosamine, and N-acetylneuraminic acid (sialic acid), the sensitivity of this assay was approximately 1-3 pmol and the assay was linear over a 100-fold range. The carbohydrate compositions determined on small quantities (1-10 pmol) of various glycoproteins including human transferrin and alpha-1 acid glycoprotein, fetuin, and ovalbumin were identical to their reported carbohydrate content and compositions. Major advantages of this technique include the time required to complete the sample preparation and analysis (less than 8 h), the sensitivity and specificity of the assay, and the fact that all carbohydrate moieties, including sialic acid, can be quantitated in a single hydrolysate of a glycoprotein.     

Comparative analysis of sulfated galactans from red algae by reductive hydrolysis and mild methanolysis coupled to two different HPLC techniques

The sugar determination of the sulfated galactans, agars and carrageenans of various red algae was performed using two different techniques of depolymerisation with subsequent HPLC analysis: 1) reductive hydrolysis/ HPAEC-PAD; 2) mild methanolysis/ RPLC-DR. Both techniques were optimized to release quantitatively the composite sugars (galactose, 6-O-methyl-galactose, the labile 3,6-anhydrogalactose and 2-O-methyl-3,6-anhydrogalactose residues) and precise relative response factors of authentic 3,6-anhydrogalactose were determined. The methanolysate neutralisation step, performed subsequently to methanolysis depolymerisation, was demonstrated as a key step for the quantitative recovery of the anhydrogalactose residues. The yield of the main sugars released by the two techniques were in good agreement for the commercial agarose and iota and kappa carrageenans studied. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Sequential GC/MS analysis of sialic acids,monosaccharides, and amino acids of glycoproteins on a single sample as heptafluorobutyrate derivatives

A GC/MS procedure was developed for the analysis of all major constituents of glycoproteins. The rationale for this approach is that by using GC/MS analysis of the constituents as heptafluorobutyrate derivatives, it was possible to quantitatively determine the sialic acid, monosaccharide, fatty acids (when present), and the amino acid composition with the sample remaining in the same reaction vessel during the entire procedure. A mild acid hydrolysis was used to liberate sialic acids and was followed by formation of methyl-esters of heptafluorobutyrate (HFB) derivatives. After GC/MS analysis of sialic acids, the remaining material was submitted to acid-catalyzed methanolysis followed by the formation of HFB derivatives. After GC/MS analysis of the monosaccharides, the sample was supplemented with norleucine (as internal standard) and hydrolyzed with 6 M HCl followed by the formation of isoamyl-esters of HFB derivatives and GC/MS analysis. His and Trp residues were modified during the step of acid-catalyzed methanolysis, but the resulting derivatives were stable during acid hydrolysis and quantitatively recovered by GC/MS analysis. As a result, all constituents of glycoproteins (sialic acids, monosaccharides (or di- and trisaccharides) and amino acids) are identified in the electron impact mode of ionization and quantified using three GC/MS analysis in the same chromatographic conditions and using a limited number of reagents, a considerable advantage over previous techniques. This method is very sensitive, all data (qualitative and quantitative) being obtained at the sub-nanomolar level of initial material.     

Purification and properties of Streptococcus pneumoniae neuraminidase

Considerable amounts (200 units/ml) of neuraminidase activity were detected in middle ear effusion of children (age 1 month-10 years) and its presence was highly correlated with the presence of Streptococcus pneumoniae. When isolates of this organism are cultured, neuraminidase activity appears in the growth medium during the exponential phase of growth. In order to study the role of this enzyme in the pathology of otitis media we have developed a method for its purification. The enzyme was purified over 5,800-fold by removing the organism and passing the culture broth through a series of affinity and ion-exchange columns. The overall yield was 2 mg enzyme protein and the final specific activity was 1.8 X 10(6) units/mg protein. A molecular weight of 65,000 was estimated by SDS-PAGE and gel filtration chromatography. The Stokes radius of neuraminidase was calculated to be 32 A, its isoelectric point was 7.2, and its pH optimum was 6.0. In terms of specificity, the enzyme catalyzed the hydrolysis of sialic acid linkages in mucin, glycoproteins, and gangliosides: bovine submaxillary mucin supported the highest catalytic efficiency, and alpha-1-antitrypsin the lowest. Neuraminidase acted on at least three linkage classes of substrates, alpha-2,6 and alpha-2,3 linkages of N-acetylneuraminic acid to galactose, and alpha-2,6 linkages to N-acetyl-galactosamine.     

Characterization of a diphosphonopentaosylceramide containing 3-O-methylgalactose from the skin of Aplysia kurodai (sea hare)

The complete structure is proposed for a ceramide (Cer), bis(2-aminoethylphosphono)-pentaoside, isolated from the skin of Aplysia kurodai. This new phosphonoglycosphingolipid was purified using two systems of column chromatography on silicic acid. The purity of the glycolipid was confirmed by thin-layer chromatography, analysis of its composition, and proton magnetic resonance spectrometry. The component carbohydrates were glucose, galactose, N-acetylgalactosamine, and 3-O-methylgalactose. Most (90%) of the fatty acid was palmitic acid and the major sphingosine bases were octadeca-4-sphingenine (51%) and anteisononadeca-4-sphingenine (38%). 2-Aminoethylphosphonyl-6-galactose was identified after its partial hydrolysis. From studies by methanolysis, permethylation, mild acid hydrolysis, hydrogen fluoride treatment, chromium trioxide oxidation combined with thin-layer chromatography, gas liquid chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and proton magnetic resonance spectrometry, the structure of the glycolipid was concluded to be 3-OMeGal beta 1----3GalNAc alpha 1----3[6'-O-(2-aminoethylphosphonyl)-Gal alpha 1----2](2-aminoethylphosphonyl----6)Gal beta 1----4Glc beta 1----1Cer.     

Carbohydrate composition of normal and variant human alpha 1-protease inhibitors.

Carbohydrate composition of normal human alpha 1-protease inhibitor (PiM₁) and several variant inhibitors (PiM₂, PiM₃, PiA, PiS, and PiZ) was determined by methanolysis of the samples followed by quantitative analysis of both neutral and amino sugars using gas-liquid chromatography. All normal and variant inhibitors contained nine mannose, seven galactose, ten N-acetylglucosamine, and eight N-acetylneuraminic acid residues per molecule, and no significant difference was found in their carbohydrate compositions. PiA is a variant with the fastest anodal electrophoretic mobility, and PiZ is a variant with the slowest mobility thus far reported. The differences in electrophoretic mobility of these Pi variants are entirely due to their amino acid substitutions determined previously. These amino acid substitutions have no effect on the carbohydrate structure of the protease inhibitor.     

Determination of saccharide content in pneumococcal polysaccharides and conjugate vaccines by GC-MSD

A simple and sensitive gas chromatographic method was designed for quantitative analysis of Streptococcus pneumoniae capsular polysaccharides, activated polysaccharides, and polysaccharide conjugates. Pneumococcal serotypes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F, and 23F polysaccharide or conjugate were subjected to methanolysis in 3N hydrochloric acid in methanol followed by re-N-acetylation and trimethylsilylation. Derivatized samples were chromatographed and detected using gas chromatography with mass selective detector. Gas chromatographic results were compared with colorimetric values with agreement of 92 to 123% over the range of all samples tested. Monosaccharides released during methanolysis included hexoses, uronic acids, 6-deoxy-hexoses, amino sugars, and alditols. Quantitative recovery of monosaccharides was achieved for all serotypes by the use of a single methanolysis, derivatization, and chromatography procedure. Response factors generated from authentic monosaccharide standards were used for quantitation of pneumococcal polysaccharides and conjugates with confirmation of peak assignments by retention time and mass spectral analysis. This method allows saccharide quantitation in multivalent pneumococcal vaccine intermediates and final drug products with low-level detection (10 pg) and peak purity.     

Alpha-1-antitrypsin. Plasma survival studies in the rat of the normal and homozygote deficient forms.

Alpha-1-antitrypsin from normal individuals (Pi type MM) from those with an inherited deficiency of circulatory protein (Pi type ZZ) were labelled with 125I and plasma clearance rates measured in rats either prior to, or following treatment with neuraminidase to remove terminal sialic acid residues. In addition, these proteins and the derivatives were tested for their ability to bind to an hepatic binding protein obtained from rabbit liver membranes that has been shown to be responsible for the clearance of serum asialoglycoproteins. Finally, the two native forms of alpha-1-antitrypsin were treated with galactose oxidase followed by reduction with tritiated potassium borohydride and then analyzed for tritium incorporation in the neutral sugar fraction. The results indicate: (a) clearance from plasma for both forms of alpha-1-antitrypsin is dramatically enhanced upon the loss of terminal sialic acid residues to the liver membrane protein; (b) Z protein does not exhibit terminal galactosyl residues; (c) the low level of Z protein in plasma cannot be accounted for by a faster rate of clearance relative to M protein. The relevance of these findings to the alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency state are discussed.     

A rapid gas chromatographic method for the determination of poly-β-hydroxybutyric acid in microbial biomass

Summary The gas chromatographic method for the determination of poly--hydroxybutyric acid (PHB) consists of a mild acid or alkaline methanolysis of poly--hydroxybutyric acid directly without previous extraction of PHB from the cells; this is followed by gas chromatography of the 3-hydroxybutyric acid methylester. The method is characterized by high accuracy and excellent reproducibility, permitting determinations as low as 10^–5 g/l. Only 4 h is required from sampling from the fermenter till completion of the PHB determination.     

Syntheses of beta-(1-->6)-branched beta-(1-->3)-linked d-galactans that exist in the rhizomes of Atractylodes lancea DC

Effective syntheses of galactose hepta-, octa-, nona-, and decasaccharides that exist in the rhizomes of Atractylodes lancea DC were achieved with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzoyl-alpha-d-galactopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate (1), 4-methoxyphenyl 2,3,4-tri-O-benzoyl-beta-d-galactopyranoside (2), 6-O-acetyl-2,3,4-tri-O-benzoyl-alpha-d-galactopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate (5), 4-methoxyphenyl 6-O-acetyl-2,4-di-O-benzoyl-beta-d-galactopyranoside (22), and 4-methoxyphenyl 2,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-beta-d-galactopyranoside (26) as the key synthons. Coupling of 2 with 1, followed by oxidative cleavage of 1-OMP and subsequent trichloroacetimidate formation gave the beta-(1-->6)-linked disaccharide donor 4. Condensation of 2 with 5 and subsequent selective deacetylation by methanolysis produced the beta-(1-->6)-linked disaccharide acceptor 7. Reaction of 7 with 4, oxidative cleavage of 1-OMP, and trichloroacetimidate formation produced the tetrasaccharide donor 9. The penta- (15), the hexa- (17), and the heptasaccharide donor 19 were synthesized similarly. Meanwhile, treatment of 1 with 22 yielded beta-(1-->3)-linked disaccharide 23 and alpha-(1-->3)-linked disaccharide 25. Oxidative cleavage of 1-OMp of 23 followed by trichloroacetimidate formation produced the disaccharide donor 24. Coupling of 26 with 24, again, gave beta-linked 27 and alpha-linked 29. Selective 6-O-deacetylation of 27 afforded the trisaccharide acceptor 28. TMSOTf-promoted condensation 28 of with the tetra- (9), penta- (15), hexa-(17), and heptasaccharide donor 19, followed by deprotection, gave the target compounds.     

Efficient synthesis of a sialyl T-antigen-linked glycopeptide by the chemoenzymatic method

A sialyl T-antigen-linked tetrapeptide was prepared by the combined method of chemical synthesis and enzymatic synthesis. The GalNAc-linked peptide was first obtained by using a commercial peptide synthesizer, and then a galactose residue was attached with beta-(1-->3)-linkage by transglycosylating with a recombinant beta-galactosidase from Bacillus circulans. The sialic acid residue was then combined by alpha-(2-->3)-linkage with sialytransferase from rat liver.     

Dependence of the bi-functional nature of a sialyltransferase from Neisseria meningitidis on a single amino acid substitution

The L1 immunotype strain 126E of Neisseria meningitidis has been shown to have an N-acetyl-neuraminic acid-containing lipooligosaccharide in which an alpha-linked galactose from a P(k) epitope is substituted at the O6 position (Wakarchuk, W. W., Gilbert, M., Martin, A., Wu, Y., Brisson, J. R., Thibault, P., and Richards, J. C. (1998) Eur. J. Biochem. 254, 626-633). Using a synthetic P(k)-epitope containing acceptor in glycosyltransferase reactions, we were able to show by NMR analysis of the reaction product that the 126E(L1)-derived sialyltransferase can make both alpha-2,3 and alpha-2,6 linkages to the terminal galactose. Gene disruption experiments showed that the lst gene in 126E(L1) was responsible for the in vivo addition of the alpha-2,6-linked N-acetyl-neuraminic acid residue. By site-directed mutagenesis it was possible to change the MC58(L3)-derived enzyme into a bifunctional enzyme with a single amino acid change at position 168, where a glycine was changed to an isoleucine. We performed a gene replacement experiment where the 126E(L1) alpha-2,3/6-sialyltransferase was replaced by allelic exchange with the monofunctional MC58(L3) alpha-2,3-sialyltransferase and with the mutant MC58(L3) allele G168I. We observed that the level of LOS sialylation with the G168I allele was very similar to that of the wild type 126E(L1), indicating that residue 168 is the critical residue for the alpha-2,6-sialyltransferase activity in vitro as well as in vivo.     

Analysis of pyruvic acid acetal containing polysaccharides by methanolysis and reductive cleavage methods.

The mass spectra of permethylated methyl 4,6-O-(1-carbomethoxyethylidene)-D-hexopyranoside and 1,5-anhydro-D-hexitol of glucose, galactose, and mannose and permethylated methyl 5,6-O-(1-carbomethoxyethylidene)-D-galactofuranoside and 1,4-anhydro-D-galactitol have been determined. The stability of each compound toward methanolysis and reductive cleavage is discussed. These techniques permit the identification of the acetalic linkages of pyruvic acid present in polysaccharides.