Desorption mass spectrometry of oligosaccharides coupled with hydrophobic chromophores

N-Glycosylation Deficiency in Transgene α7 nAChR and RIC3 Expressing CHO Cells Without NACHO

The human neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor α7 (nAChR) is an important target implicated in diseases like Alzheimer's or Parkinson's, as well as a validated target for drug discovery. For α7 nAChR model systems, correct folding and ion influx functions are essential. Two chaperones, resistance to inhibitors of cholinesterase 3 (RIC3) and novel nAChR regulator (NACHO), enhance the assembly and function of α7 nAChR. This study investigates the consequence of NACHO absence on α7 nAChR expression and function. Therefore, the sequences of human α7 nAChR and human RIC3 were transduced in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Protein expression and function of α7 nAChR were confirmed by Western blot and voltage clamp, respectively. Cellular viability was assessed by cell proliferation and lactate dehydrogenase assays. Intracellular and extracellular expression were determined by in/on-cell Western, compared with another nAChR subtype by novel cluster fluorescence-linked immunosorbent assay, and N-glycosylation efficiency was assessed by glycosylation digest. The transgene CHO cell line showed expected protein expression and function for α7 nAChR and cell viability was barely influenced by overexpression. While intracellular levels of α7 nAChR were as anticipated, plasma membrane insertion was low. The glycosylation digest revealed no appreciable N-glycosylation product. This study demonstrates a stable and functional cell line expressing α7 nAChR, whose protein expression, function, and viability are not affected by the absence of NACHO. The reduced plasma membrane insertion of α7 nAChR, combined with incorrect matured N-glycosylation at the Golgi apparatus, suggests a loss of recognition signal for lectin sorting.

Fragmentation and Ionization Efficiency of Positional and Functional Isomers of Paeoniflorin Derivatives in Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry

Paeoniflorin and albiflorin, which are functional isomers, are the major constituents of an herbal medicine derived from Paeonia lactiflora. Those functional isomers and their galloylated derivatives, which are positional isomers, were studied by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization–tandem mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS/MS). The resulting mass spectra are discussed based on the fragmentation patterns of the sodium adducts. The product ion spectra of 4-O-galloylalbiflorin and 4′-O-galloylpaeoniflorin differed, even though they were positional isomers. The fragmentations of the ester parts were influenced by the neighboring hydroxyl groups. The ionization efficiency of the sodium adduct of albiflorin was higher than that for paeoniflorin. These results indicate that the carboxylic ester group has a higher affinity for sodium ions than the acetal group, which can be attributed to the carbonyl oxygen being negatively polarized, allowing it to function as a Lewis base.

Analysis of Saccharides by the Addition of Amino Acids

In this work, we present the detection sensitivity improvement of electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry of neutral saccharides in a positive ion mode by the addition of various amino acids. Saccharides of a broad molecular weight range were chosen as the model compounds in the present study. Saccharides provide strong noncovalent interactions with amino acids, and the complex formation enhances the signal intensity and simplifies the mass spectra of saccharides. Polysaccharides provide a polymer-like ESI spectrum with a basic subunit difference between multiply charged chains. The protonated spectra of saccharides are not well identified because of different charge state distributions produced by the same molecules. Depending on the solvent used and other ions or molecules present in the solution, noncovalent interactions with saccharides may occur. These interactions are affected by the addition of amino acids. Amino acids with polar side groups show a strong tendency to interact with saccharides. In particular, serine shows a high tendency to interact with saccharides and significantly improves the detection sensitivity of saccharide compounds. Graphical Abstract ᅟ.

[Tetra-saccharide glucose as a diagnostic biomarker for Pompe disease: a study with 35 patients]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Pompe disease is a disorder originating from an acid alpha-glycosidase (AAG) enzyme deficiency. This disease produces an accumulation of lysosomal glycogen in different tissues, whereby the skeletal and heart muscles are especially involved. The established diagnosis is achieved through the identification of the AAG deficiency. There are also other secondary diagnostic biomarkers, such as tetra-saccharide glucose (Glc4), which shows high levels in the urine of these patients. In this study it is highlighted the usefulness of Glc4 as a diagnostic biomarker for Pompe disease in its different forms of presentation, using a high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection (HPLC/UV) adapted to the study.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 75 individuals have been analyzed: 40 healthy controls and 35 patients diagnosed with Pompe disease. Twenty-four hour samples of urine were collected from all of the patients and their Glc4 levels were determined by means of HPLC/UV.

RESULTS

The evaluation of the urinary Glc4 shows a high discrimination ability between healthy/sick individuals. In addition, the results obtained have allowed to establish the most appropriate level of decision or cut-off point for the identification of sick people.

CONCLUSIONS

Glc4 urinary levels are found to be high in patients suffering from Pompe disease and even though increased levels are also found in other conditions, the existence of a AAG deficiency together with a compatible clinical symptoms, prove very helpful for a correct diagnosis of this serious disease.

Carbohydrate structure characterization by tandem ion mobility mass spectrometry (IMMS)2

A high resolution ion mobility spectrometer was interfaced to a Synapt G2 high definition mass spectrometer (HDMS) to produce IMMS-IMMS analysis. The hybrid instrument contained an electrospray ionization source, two ion gates, an ambient pressure linear ion mobility drift tube, a quadrupole mass filter, a traveling wave ion mobility spectrometer (TWIMS), and a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. The dual gate drift tube ion mobility spectrometer (DTIMS) could be used to acquire traditional IMS spectra but also could selectively transfer specific mobility selected precursor ions to the Synapt G2 HDMS for mass filtration (quadrupole). The mobility and mass selected ions could then be introduced into a collision cell for fragmentation followed by mobility separation of the fragment ions with the traveling wave ion mobility spectrometer. These mobility separated fragment ions are finally mass analyzed using a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. This results in an IMMS-IMMS analysis and provides a method to evaluate the isomeric heterogeneity of precursor ions by both DTIMS and TWIMS to acquire a mobility-selected and mass-filtered fragmentation pattern and to additionally obtain traveling wave ion mobility spectra of the corresponding product ions. This new IMMS(2) instrument enables the structural diversity of carbohydrates to be studied in greater detail. The physical separation of isomeric oligosaccharide mixtures was achieved by both DTIMS and TWIMS, with DTIMS demonstrating higher resolving power (70-80) than TWIMS (30-40). Mobility selected MS/MS spectra were obtained, and TWIMS evaluation of product ions showed that isomeric forms of fragment ions existed for identical m/z values.

Systematic comparison of reverse phase and hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography platforms for the analysis of N-linked glycans

Due to the hydrophilic nature of glycans, reverse phase chromatography has not been widely used as a glycomic separation technique coupled to mass spectrometry. Other approaches such as hydrophilic interaction chromatography and porous graphitized carbon chromatography are often employed, though these strategies frequently suffer from decreased chromatographic resolution, long equilibration times, indefinite retention, and column bleed. Herein, it is shown that, through an efficient hydrazone formation derivatization of N-linked glycans (~4 h of additional sample preparation time which is carried out in parallel), numerous experimental and practical advantages are gained when analyzing the glycans by online reverse phase chromatography. These benefits include an increased number of glycans detected, increased peak capacity of the separation, and the ability to analyze glycans on the identical liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry platform commonly used for proteomic analyses. The data presented show that separation of derivatized N-linked glycans by reverse phase chromatography significantly out-performs traditional separation of native or derivatized glycans by hydrophilic interaction chromatography. Furthermore, the movement to a more ubiquitous separation technique will afford numerous research groups the opportunity to analyze both proteomic and glycomic samples on the same platform with minimal time and physical change between experiments, increasing the efficiency of "multiomic" biological approaches.

Platform for analysis of anthranilic acid N-glycan derivatives utilizing multipolarity mode LC-MS with hydrophilic interaction chromatography separation and ion trap MS/MS

BACKGROUND

The structure of glycans is complex compared with linear polymers such as proteins and nucleic acids. Structural assignment of these compounds is particularly challenging to the bioanalyst. Here we present a multipolarity mode LC-MS platform for analysis of anthranilic acid-derivatized N-glycans.

RESULTS

Multipolarity mode LC-MS analysis of N-glycan anthranilic aid (2AA) derivatives, collected under conditions that stabilize sialyloligosaccharides, provided more complete structural coverage than either mode when used alone. Structural assignment was simplified by the use of 2AA, which localizes charge to the reducing end in both modes facilitating the production of reducing end fragment dominant spectra.

CONCLUSION

Multimode analysis of high-mannose, hybrid and complex N-glycans, under conditions used in this method, is superior to either mode when used alone.

High ion yields of carbohydrates from frozen solution by UV-MALDI

An aqueous acetonitrile solution containing oligosaccharides (maltopentaose and polysaccharides) and a matrix (2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid) was frozen at 100 K for mass analysis using ultraviolet matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (UV-MALDI). Compared with conventional UV-MALDI (i.e., using a dry analyte/matrix mixture), a frozen solution generates more oligosaccharide ions and less fragments from postsource decay. Furthermore, the ion signal is long-lasting, and the analyte distribution features enhanced homogeneity. The ion generation efficiency for this procedure is 20-30 times greater than that for a conventional dried mixture. Interestingly, the percentages for maltopentaose fragmentation from postsource decay for the frozen samples are close to zero (<2%), as compared with the 17% and 40% values found for dried samples at low and high laser fluences, respectively. Comparisons with other UV matrixes (α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid and sinapinic acid) and ionic liquids (2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid + pyridine and α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid + butylamine) were investigated, and possible mechanisms are discussed.

Hydrophobic derivatization of N-linked glycans for increased ion abundance in electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

A library of neutral, hydrophobic reagents was synthesized for use as derivatizing agents in order to increase the ion abundance of N-linked glycans in electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI MS). The glycans are derivatized via hydrazone formation and are shown to increase the ion abundance of a glycan standard more than 4-fold. Additionally, the data show that the systematic addition of hydrophobic surface area to the reagent increases the glycan ion abundance, a property that can be further exploited in the analysis of glycans. The results of this study will direct the future synthesis of hydrophobic reagents for glycan analysis using the correlation between hydrophobicity and theoretical non-polar surface area calculation to facilitate the development of an optimum tag for glycan derivatization. The compatibility and advantages of this method are demonstrated by cleaving and derivatizing N-linked glycans from human plasma proteins. The ESI-MS signal for the tagged glycans are shown to be significantly more abundant, and the detection of negatively charged sialylated glycans is enhanced.

Interplay of permanent charge and hydrophobicity in the electrospray ionization of glycans

The analysis of N-linked glycans by mass spectrometry (MS) has been characterized by low signal-to-noise ratios and high limits of detection due to their hydrophilicity and lack of basic sites able to be protonated. As a result, every step in glycan sample preparation must be thoroughly optimized in order to minimize sample loss, contamination, and analytical variability. Importantly, properties of glycans and their derivatized counterparts must be thoroughly studied in order to exploit certain characteristics for enhancing MS analysis. Herein, the effectiveness of the incorporation of a permanent charge is studied and determined to hamper glycan analysis. Also, a procedure for glycan hydrazone formation is optimized and outlined where a large number of variables were simultaneously analyzed using a fractional factorial design (FFD) in order to determine which conditions affected the reaction efficiency of the hydrazone formation reaction. Finally, the hydrophobic tagging of glycans is shown to be a viable opportunity to further increase the ion abundance of glycans in MS.

A convenient LC-MS method for assessment of glucose kinetics in vivo with D-[13C6]glucose as a tracer

BACKGROUND

The isotope-labeled intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) combined with computer modeling is widely used to derive parameters related to glucose metabolism in vivo. Most of these methods involve use of either (2)H(2)-labeled or (13)C(1)-labeled D-glucose as a tracer with GC-MS to measure the isotope enrichment. These methods are challenging, both technologically and economically. We have developed a novel approach that is suitable for labeled-IVGTT studies involving a large cohort of individuals.

METHODS

The tracer, D-[(13)C(6)]glucose, is a low-cost alternative with the significant advantage that the sixth isotope of natural glucose has virtually zero natural abundance, which facilitates isotopomer analysis with <1% labeled glucose in the infusate. After deproteinization of plasma samples collected at various times, glucose is converted to a stable derivative, purified by solid-phase extraction (SPE), and analyzed by HPLC-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry to accumulate the isotope-abundance data for the A+2, A+3, and A+6 ions of the glucose derivative. A 2-pool modeling program was used to derive standard kinetic parameters.

RESULTS

With labeled-IVGTT data from 10 healthy male individuals, the values for insulin sensitivity, glucose effectiveness, and the plasma clearance rate estimated with the 2-pool minimal model compared well with values obtained via traditional methods.

CONCLUSIONS

The relative simplicity and robustness of the new method permit the preparation and analysis of up to 48 samples/day, a throughput equivalent to 2 complete IVGTT experiments, and this method is readily adaptable to existing 96 well-format purification and analytical systems.

N-terminal labeling of proteins by the Pictet-Spengler reaction

The Pictet-Spengler reaction was applied to the N-terminal labeling of horse heart myoglobin. This was performed in the following two steps: (1) conversion of the N-terminal glycine residue to an alpha-keto aldehyde by a transamination reaction and (2) condensation of the resulting activated myoglobin with tryptamine analogues by the Pictet-Spengler reaction. Ultraviolet (UV)/visible (vis) absorption and circular dichroism (CD) spectral data revealed that the tertiary structure of myoglobin was not altered by the Pictet-Spengler reaction.

Derivatization by 6-aminoquinolyl-N-hydroxysuccinimidyl carbamate for enhancing the ionization yield of small peptides and glycopeptides in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

The characterization of glycosylation in proteins by mass spectrometry (MS) is often impeded by strong suppression of ionization of glycopeptides in the presence of non-glycosylated peptides. Glycopeptides with a large carbohydrate part and a short peptide backbone are particularly affected by this problem. To meet the goal of generating mass spectra exhibiting glycopeptide coverages as complete as possible, derivatization of glycopeptides offers a practical way to increase their ionization yield. This paper investigated derivatization with 6-aminoquinolyl-N-hydroxysuccinimidyl carbamate (AQC) which is a rapid labeling technique commonly used for fluorescence detection in high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and capillary electrophoresis (CE). As test samples we used peptides and glycopeptides obtained by enzymatic digestion of three different glycoproteins, i.e., human antithrombin, chicken ovalbumin, and bovine alpha1-acid-glycoprotein. It was found that AQC derivatization resulted in strongly increased signal intensities when analyzing small peptides and glycopeptides by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI)-MS. For these compounds the limit of detection could be reduced to low fmol amounts. Without derivatization only glycopeptides containing large peptide backbones were detected by MALDI-MS. This effect was even significant when glycopeptides were pre-separated and enriched by means of lectin affinity chromatography before MALDI-MS analysis and when using electrospray ionization (ESI). This labeling method, applied in combination with MS detection for the first time, was found to be well suited for the enhancement of detection sensitivity for small glycopeptides in MALDI-MS analysis and thus for reducing the need for pre-separation steps.

Structural determination ofN-linked glycans by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

This paper reviews methods for the analysis of N-linked glycans by mass spectrometry with emphasis on studies conducted at the Oxford Glycobiology Institute. Topics covered are the release of glycans from sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis gels, their purification for analysis by mass spectrometry, methods based on matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) and electrospray ionization for producing fragment ions, and details of their fragmentation. MALDI mass spectrometry provided a rapid method for profiling neutral N-linked glycans as their [M + Na](+) ions which could be fragmented by collision-induced decomposition to give spectra containing both glycosidic and cross-ring fragments. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry was more versatile in that it was relatively easy to change the type of ion that was formed and, furthermore, unlike MALDI, electrospray did not cause extensive loss of sialic acids from sialylated glycans. Negative ions formed by addition of anions such as chloride and, particularly, nitrate, to the electrospray solvent were stable and enabled singly charged ions to be obtained from larger glycans than was possible in positive ion mode. Fragmentation of negative ions followed specific pathways that defined structural details of the glycans that were difficult to obtain by classical methods such as exoglycosidase digestion.

Structural characterization of 2-aminobenzamide-derivatized oligosaccharides using a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization two-stage time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometer

Oligosaccharides were derivatized by reductive amination using 2-aminobenzamide (2-AB) and analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization two-stage time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF/TOF) tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) in the positive ion mode. The major signals were obtained under these conditions from the [M+Na]+ ions for all 2-AB-derivatized oligosaccharides. A systematic study was conducted on a series of 2-AB-derivatized oligosaccharides to allow rationalization of the fragmentation processes. The MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS/MS spectra of the [M+Na]+ ions of 2-AB-derivatized oligosaccharides were dominated by glycosidic cleavages. These fragments originating both from the reducing and the non-reducing ends of the oligosaccharide yield information on sequence and branching. Moreover, the MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS/MS spectra were also characterized by abundant cross-ring fragments which are very informative on the linkages of the monosaccharide residues constituting these oligosaccharides. MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS/MS analysis of 2-AB-derivatized oligosaccharides, by providing structural information at the low-picomole level, appears to be a powerful tool for carbohydrate structural analysis.

Glycosphingolipid structural analysis and glycosphingolipidomics

Sphingosines, or sphingoids, are a family of naturally occurring long-chain hydrocarbon derivatives sharing a common 1,3-dihydroxy-2-amino-backbone motif. The majority of sphingolipids, as their derivatives are collectively known, can be found in cell membranes in the form of amphiphilic conjugates, each composed of a polar head group attached to an N-acylated sphingoid, or ceramide. Glycosphingolipids (GSLs), which are the glycosides of either ceramide or myo-inositol-(1-O)-phosphoryl-(O-1)-ceramide, are a structurally and functionally diverse sphingolipid subclass; GSLs are ubiquitously distributed among all eukaryotic species and are found in some bacteria. Since GSLs are secondary metabolites, direct and comprehensive analysis (metabolomics) must be considered an essential complement to genomic and proteomic approaches for establishing the structural repertoire within an organism and deducing its possible functional roles. The glycosphingolipidome clearly comprises an important and extensive subset of both the glycome and the lipidome, but the complexities of GSL structure, biosynthesis, and function form the outlines of a considerable analytical problem, especially since their structural diversity confers by extension an enormous variability with respect to physicochemical properties. This chapter covers selected developments and applications of techniques in mass spectrometric (MS) that have contributed to GSL structural analysis and glycosphingolipidomics since 1990. Sections are included on basic characteristics of ionization and fragmentation of permethylated GSLs and of lithium-adducted nonderivatized GSLs under positive-ion electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and collision-induced mass spectrometry (CID-MS) conditions; on the analysis of sulfatides, mainly using negative-ion techniques; and on selected applications of ESI-MS and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) to emerging GSL structural, functional, and analytical issues. The latter section includes a particular focus on evolving techniques for analysis of gangliosides, GSLs containing sialic acid, as well as on characterizations of GSLs from selected nonmammalian eukaryotes, such as dipterans, nematodes, cestodes, and fungi. Additional sections focus on the issue of whether it is better to leave GSLs intact or remove the ceramide; on development and uses of thin-layer chromatography (TLC) blotting and TLC-MS techniques; and on emerging issues of high-throughput analysis, including the use of flow injection, liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS), and capillary electrophoresis mass spectrometry (CE-MS).

Mass spectrometry of oligosaccharides

Glycosylation is a common post-translational modification to cell surface and extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins as well as to lipids. As a result, cells carry a dense coat of carbohydrates on their surfaces that mediates a wide variety of cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions that are crucial to development and function. Because of the historical difficulties with the analysis of complex carbohydrate structures, a detailed understanding of their roles in biology has been slow to develop. Just as mass spectrometry has proven to be the core technology behind proteomics, it stands to play a similar role in the study of functional implications of carbohydrate expression, known as glycomics. This review summarizes the state of knowledge for the mass spectrometric analysis of oligosaccharides with regard to neutral, sialylated, and sulfated compound classes. Mass spectrometric techniques for the ionization and fragmentation of oligosaccharides are discussed so as to give the reader the background to make informed decisions to solve structure-activity relations in glycomics.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization tandem mass spectrometry and post-source decay fragmentation study of phenylhydrazones of N-linked oligosaccharides from ovalbumin

N-linked oligosaccharides were released from hen ovalbumin by PNGase F and derivatized with phenylhydrazine. They were then examined by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry. Phenylhydrazones of N-glycans under MALDI-tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) and post-source decay (PSD) conditions produced relatively similar fragmentation patterns; however, more cross-ring cleavages and fragment ions corresponding to low abundance isomeric structures were detected by MS/MS and not in PSD. Most fragment ions corresponded to glycosidic cleavages with preferential loss of residues from the chitobiose core and the 3-antenna. Sialylated phenylhydrazone-N-glycans, characterized here for the first time in ovalbumin by tandem mass spectrometry, underwent losses of sialic acid residues followed the same fragmentation pathways observed with neutral derivatized glycans. The relative abundances of some fragment ions indicated the linkage position of sialic acid and provided information on the number of residues attached to the 6-antenna. Also, new structures of ovalbumin glycans were observed as part of this study and are reported here.

Structural analysis of permethylated oligosaccharides using electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry and deutero-reduction

Deutero-reduced permethylated oligosaccharides were analyzed by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) using a hybrid quadrupole orthogonal acceleration time-of-flight mass spectrometer, fitted with a nanoflow ESI source. Under these ionization conditions such derivatives preferentially form sodiated molecular species in addition to protonated molecular species. Under collision-induced dissociation, protonated and sodiated molecular species yield simple and predictable fragment mass spectra. A systematic study was conducted on a series of deutero-reduced permethylated glycans to allow rationalization of the fragmentation processes. MS/MS spectra were characterized by fragments resulting from the cleavage of glycosidic bonds. These fragments originating from both the reducing and the non-reducing ends of the glycan yield information on sequence and branching. Furthermore, the substituent 3-linked to a HexNAc unit was readily eliminated. Special attention was devoted to a systematic study of fucosylated glycans. The fucosylated deutero-reduced permethylated glycans were submitted to an acidic hydrolysis, releasing specifically the fucosyl residues. The nascent free hydroxyl groups were subsequently CD3-labelled in order to determine the positions initially bearing the fucosyl residues along the oligosaccharide backbone. This methodology was finally applied to characterize a glycan pool enzymatically released from glycoproteins. The present data show that structural elucidation can be achieved at the 50 fmol level.

Tandem mass spectrometric strategies for determination of sulfation positions and uronic acid epimerization in chondroitin sulfate oligosaccharides

Chondroitin sulfate (CS) is a glycosaminoglycan consisting of repeating (HexA-GalNAc sulfate) disaccharides, the functions of which depend on patterns of sulfation and uronic acid epimerization. The correlation of biological activities with structure requires a strategy to determine the sequences of CS oligosaccharides without the need for total isolation. Tandem mass spectrometry has enabled the development of proteomics, based on CID fragmentation of ions produced from complex mixtures of proteolytic peptides, and has the potential for rapid sequencing of CS and other glycosaminoglycan classes. The most challenging aspects of CS sequencing are to distinguish GalNAc residues sulfated at the 4- versus the 6-position and uronic acid epimers. This work describes the utility of (1) reducing terminal derivatives and (2) control of precursor ion charge state for tandem mass spectrometric strategies for determining GalNAc sulfation positional isomers of CS. The capability of tandem MS to differentiate uronic acid epimers is also shown, providing evidence that complete or nearly complete information on CS covalent structure may be obtained using tandem MS.

Profiling of N -linked oligosaccharides using phenylhydrazine derivatization and mass spectrometry

N-linked oligosaccharide standards obtained from commercial sources were derivatized with phenylhydrazine (PHN) and analyzed by on-line reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). This procedure was then applied to mixtures of N-glycans enzymatically released from hen ovalbumin. Under ESI-MS conditions, phenylhydrazones of asialylated oligosaccharide standards and ovalbumin glycans produced mainly [M + 2H]2+ molecular ions at low cone voltage values, while minimal fragmentation was observed. Reversed-phase HPLC/ESI-MS total and selected ion chromatograms obtained for derivatized N-glycans from ovalbumin showed partial but useful separation. Overall glycan profiles obtained by ESI-MS were compared with results obtained by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI)-MS. Qualitatively, profiles were similar from one technique to the other in terms of relative abundance of glycans versus composition. Post-source decay (PSD) analysis of the [M + Na]+ ions of PHN-glycans showed dominant B, C and internal B/Y, C/Y cleavages. These patterns were helpful in relating fragmentation to proposed structures. Cross-ring cleavage fragment ions (A-type) were also observed in most cases. The PHN derivatization method is fast and simple. It produces abundant parent ions in both MALDI-MS and ESI-MS, while avoiding the presence of salt contaminants during the labeling procedure.

Labelling saccharides with phenylhydrazine for electrospray and matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization mass spectrometry

A well-known reaction of carbonyl compounds with phenylhydrazine has been applied to saccharides, providing increased sensitivity for mass spectrometric (MS) and ultraviolet (UV) detection during high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) separations. After a simple derivatization procedure for 1 h at 70 degrees C and purification of the reaction mixture from excess reagent by extraction, the sugar derivatives were characterized by direct injection or on-line HPLC/electrospray ionization (ESI) and by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) MS. Because no salts are used or produced upon reaction, this procedure is very simple and suitable for the tagging of saccharides. The reaction allows for on-target derivatization and products are very stable. The derivatization procedure has been applied to commercially-obtained small saccharides and standard N-linked oligosaccharides. Lastly, hen ovalbumin N-glycans were detached enzymatically and characterized by MALDI-MS as their phenylhydrazone derivatives.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry of dextran and dextrin derivatives

Application of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) to the analysis of dextran and dextrin derivatives, specifically glucose saccharides, by time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry has been reported. MALDI-TOF analysis was carried out on alpha-, beta- and gamma-cyclodextrin, two O-methylated-beta-cyclodextrins of differing degrees of substitution (DS) and dextrans (a linear glucose saccharide), as pure and doped solutions and as mixtures of two or more of these. Doping was carried out with trace amounts of inorganic salts. The purpose of the analysis of the cyclodextrins was to determine whether they would form inclusion complexes with the various cations added, or whether less specific cation addition/exchange was occurring either prior to desorption or in the gas phase.

A comparative study on structural elucidation of sialyl oligosaccharides by mass spectrometry with fast atom bombardment, electrospray ionization, and matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization

To establish a new protocol for sensitive detection and structural characterization of sialyl oligosaccharides, their sensitivities and structural information from mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry with FAB-, ESI-, and MALDI were evaluated in detail. Among these ionization methods, FAB-MS and FAB-MS/MS gave reproducible and predictable spectra carrying information on sequence and branching of sialyl oligosaccharides after derivatization with 2-aminopyridine (PA). With both positive and negative ion modes, their structural elucidation promises to be straightforward, MS/MS spectra being measurable at as low as 200 pmol. Thus, this method constitutes a powerful tool for sensitive detection and structural characterization of limited quantities of sialyl oligosaccharides by FAB-MS and FAB-MS/MS.

Liquid chromatographic assay for a glucose tetrasaccharide, a putative biomarker for the diagnosis of Pompe disease

A HPLC method associated with butyl-p-aminobenzoate derivatization has been developed for the analysis of a tetraglucose oligomer, Glcalpha1-6Glcalpha1-4Glcalpha1-4Glc, designated Glc(4), in biological fluids. This tetraglucose, normally excreted in the urine, has previously been shown to be elevated in a number of pathological conditions including Pompe disease (glycogen storage disease type II), which is caused by a deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme acid alpha-glucosidase. Concentrations of Glc(4) in both urine and plasma were established for the age ranges of <1, 1-5, 6-10, 11-20, and >20 years, both in normal individuals and in a cohort of 21 patients with enzymatically confirmed Pompe disease. The Glc(4) concentration decreased with age in both groups, but all the patients had elevated Glc(4) levels compared with age-matched controls. Electrospray tandem mass spectrometry was employed to establish the homogeneity of the HPLC peak for Glc(4) and to investigate the identity of other unusual oligosaccharides excreted in patient urine. Our results demonstrate that this method is suitable for application in clinical laboratories to help establish the diagnosis of Pompe disease.

Post-source decay fragmentation analyses of linkage isomers of Lewis-type oligosaccharides in curved-field reflectron matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry: combined in-source decay/post-source decay experiments and relative ion abundance analysis

Linkage isomers of Lewis(X) trisaccharide (Le(X)) and Lewis(a) trisaccharide (Le(a)) were distinguished by the post-source decay (PSD) fragment spectra obtained by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS) without permethylation. Both Y- and Z-type fragmentations were observed at the C-3 position of N-acetylhexosamine. beta-Elimination at C-3 of the reducing-end N-acetylglucosamine in Le(X) formed a double bond, which conjugated to an N-acetyl group, making the chemical species stable. In contrast, the double bond formed in the reducing end glucose of 3-fucosyllactose was unstable owing to the lack of a conjugated system. Therefore, beta-elimination of N-acetylglucosamine occurred predominantly rather than that of hexose in MALDI-PSD fragmentation. The measurements of the PSD fragment mass spectra using pseudo precursor ions originating from in-source decay were useful for the analyses of the fragmentation mechanisms and for the assignments of the chemical species of the fragment ions. The combined in-source decay/post-source decay experiments revealed the formation of a double bond between C-2 and C-3 in N-acetylglucosamine of Le(X). Abundance analysis of the PSD ions indicated that the 1-3 glycosyl linkage cleaves more easily than does the 1-4 linkage in MALDI-PSD fragmentation. Ion abundance analyses were useful in estimating the degree of Y- and Z-type fragmentation at the C-3 position of hexose and N-acetylhexosamine. The analysis of the relative ion abundances was a powerful tool for the assignments of the chemical species of the PSD ions.

Electrospray mass spectrometry and fragmentation of N-linked carbohydrates derivatized at the reducing terminus

Derivatives were prepared from N-linked glycans by reductive amination from 2-aminobenzamide, 2-aminopyridine, 3-aminoquinoline, 2-aminoacridone, 4-amino-N-(2-diethylaminoethyl)benzamide, and the methyl, ethyl, and butyl esters of 4-aminobenzoic acid. Their electrospray and collision-induced dissociation (CID) fragmentation spectra were examined with a Q-TOF mass spectrometer. The strongest signals were obtained from the [M + Na]+ ions for all derivatives except sugars derivatized with 4-amino-N-(2-diethylaminoethyl)benzamide which gave very strong doubly charged [M + H + Na]2+ ions. The strongest [M + Na]+ ion signals were obtained from the butyl ester of 4-aminobenzoic acid and the weakest from 2-aminopyridine. The most informative spectra were recorded from the [M + Li]+ or [M + Na]+ ions. These spectra were dominated by ions produced by sequence-revealing glycosidic cleavages and "internal" fragments. Linkage-revealing cross-ring cleavage ions were reasonably abundant, particularly from high-mannose glycans. Although the nature of the derivative was found to have little effect upon the fragmentation pattern, 3-aminoquinoline derivatives gave marginally more abundant cross-ring fragments than the other derivatives. [M + H]+ ions formed only glycosidic fragments with few, if any, cross-ring cleavage ions. Doubly charged molecular ions gave less informative spectra; singly charged fragments were weak, and molecular ions containing hydrogen ([M + 2H]2+ and [M + H + Na]2+) fragmented as the [M + H]+ singly charged ions with no significant cross-ring cleavages.

Collision-induced fragmentation of underivatized N-linked carbohydrates ionized by electrospray

The electrospray mass spectra and collision-induced fragmentation of neutral N-linked glycans obtained from glycoproteins were examined with a Q-TOF mass spectrometer. The glycans were ionized most effectively as adducts of alkali metals, with lithium providing the most abundant signal and caesium the least. Singly charged ions generally gave higher ion currents than doubly charged ions. Addition of formic acid could be used to produce [M + H]+ ions, but these ions were always accompanied by abundant cone-voltage fragments. The energy required for collision-induced fragmentation was found to increase in a linear manner as a function of mass with the [M + Na]+ ions requiring about four times as much energy as the [M + H]+ ions for complete fragmentation of the molecular ions. Fragmentation of the [M + H]+ ions gave predominantly B- and Y-type glycosidic fragments whereas the [M + Na]+ and [M + Li]+ ions produced a number of additional fragments including those derived from cross-ring cleavages. Little fragmentation was observed from the [M + K]+ and [M + Rb]+ ions and the only fragment to be observed from the [M + Cs]+ ion was Cs+. The [M + Na]+ and [M + Li]+ ions from all the N-linked glycans gave abundant fragments resulting from loss of the terminal GlcNAc moiety and prominent, though weaker, ions as the result of 0,2A and 2,4A cross-ring cleavages of this residue. Most other ions were the result of successive additional losses of residues from the non-reducing terminus. This pattern was particularly prominent with glycans containing several non-reducing GlcNAc residues where successive losses of 203 u were observed. Many of the ions in the low-mass range were products of several different fragmentation routes but still provided structural information. Possibly of most diagnostic importance was an ion formed by loss of 221 u (GlcNAc molecule) from an ion that had lost the 3-antenna and the chitobiose core. This latter ion, although coincident in mass with some other 'internal' fragments, often provided additional information on the composition of the antennae. Other ions defining antenna composition were weak cross-ring fragments produced from the core branching mannose residue. Glycans containing Gal-GlcNAc residues showed successive losses of this moiety, particularly from the B-type fragments resulting from loss of the reducing-terminal GlcNAc residue. The [M + Na]+ and [M + Li]+ ions from high-mannose and hybrid glycans gave a series of ions of composition (Man)nNa/Li+ where n = 1 to the total number of glycans in the molecule, allowing these sugars to be distinguished from the more highly processed complex glycans. Other ions in the spectra of the high-mannose glycans were diagnostic of chain branching but insufficient information was available to determine their mode of formation.

Analysis of the pre-S2 N- and O-linked glycans of the M surface protein from human hepatitis B virus

The surface antigen of hepatitis B virus comprises a nested set of small (S), middle (M), and large (L) proteins, all of which are partially glycosylated in their S domains. The pre-S2 domain, present only in M and L proteins, is further N-glycosylated at Asn-4 exclusively in the M protein. Since the pre-S2 N-glycan appears to play a crucial role in the secretion of viral particles, the M protein may be considered as a potential target for antiviral therapy. For characterization of the pre-S2 glycosylation, pre-S2 (glyco)peptides were released from native, patient-derived hepatitis B virus subviral particles by tryptic digestion, separated from remaining particles, purified by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography, and identified by amino acid and N-terminal sequence analysis as well as matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). Pre-S2 N-glycans were characterized by anion exchange chromatography, methylation analysis, and on target sequential exoglycosidase digestions in combination with MALDI-TOF-MS, demonstrating the presence of partially sialylated diantennary complex-type oligosaccharides. In addition, the pre-S2 domain of M protein, but not that of L protein, was found to be partially O-glycosylated by a Gal(beta1-3)GalNAcalpha-, Neu5Ac(alpha2-3)Gal(beta1-3)GalNAcalpha-, or GalNAcalpha-residue. The respective O-glycosylation site was assigned to Thr-37 by digestion with carboxypeptidases in combination with MALDI-TOF-MS and by quadrupole time-of-flight electrospray mass spectrometry. Analytical data further revealed that about 90% of M protein is N-terminally acetylated.

Post-source decay mass spectrometry: optimized calibration procedure and structural characterization of permethylated oligosaccharides

Permethylated oligosaccharides were analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI/MS) using a reflectron time-of-flight instrument in the post-source decay (PSD) mode. Under these ionization conditions, such derivatives yield intense signals corresponding to sodium or potassium cationized molecular species. Fragments observed in the PSD spectra result exclusively from cleavage of glycosidic bonds, preferentially at N-acetylhexosamine residues. A systematic study was carried out on a series of permethylated oligosaccharides to allow rationalization of the fragmentation processes. Fragments originating from both the reducing and the non-reducing ends of the oligosaccharide yield information on sequence and branching. Moreover, glycosyl residues linked in position 3 of HexNAc units give rise to a highly specific elimination process, which allows unambiguous assignment of (1-3) interglycosidic linkages. Special attention was paid to the structural analysis of oligosaccharides carrying the commonly encountered fucosyl and sialyl end-caps. In the case of sialylated residues, a targeted methodology involving desialylation and specific CD3-labeling of the nascent free hydroxyl groups was developed to mark the initial location of sialic acid residues along the oligosaccharide backbone. As accurate mass determination of fragment ions is essential for their assignment, a simplified protocol for the calibration in the PSD mode is described. This procedure allows the determination of the correction function parameters required to process the data for an instrument that employs post-acceleration detection. MALDI/PSD-MS of permethylated oligosaccharides, by providing structural information at the low picomole level, appears to be a valuable complement, or an alternative, to the techniques currently in use for carbohydrate structural analysis.

Structural analysis of O-linked oligosaccharide-alditols by electrospray-tandem mass spectrometry after mild periodate oxidation and derivatization with 2-aminopyridine

O-linked oligosaccharide-alditols were analyzed by a combination of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and electrospray-tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS). First, oligosaccharide-alditols were treated with sodium meta-periodate under conditions where core N-acetylgalactosaminitol is specifically degraded. The resulting fragments were labeled with 2-aminopyridine and purified on a reversed-phase column. Pyridylamino oligosaccharides yielded protonated molecular ions in positive-ion ES-MS and gave Y-series sequence ions, arising from glycosidic cleavages, by ESI-tandem mass spectrometry. Information on sugar sequence and branching of oligosaccharides linked at C6 and C3 to the N-acetylgalactosaminitol can be obtained. A systematic study of various oligosaccharide-alditols demonstrated that this approach constitutes a powerful tool for the structural characterization of O-glycans available only in limited quantities.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) envelope glycoproteins vary drastically in their sensitivity to glycan processing: evidence that alteration of a single N-linked glycosylation site can regulate HBV secretion

The role of N-linked glycosylation and glycan trimming in the function of glycoproteins remains a central question in biology. Hepatitis B virus specifies three glycoproteins (L, M, and S) that are derived from alternate translation of the same ORF. All three glycoproteins contain a common N-glycosylation site in the S domain while M possesses an additional N-glycosylation site at its amino terminus. In the presence of N-butyl-deoxnojirimycin (an inhibitor of alpha-glucosidase) virions and the M protein are surprisingly retained. Preliminary evidence suggests that the retained M protein is hyperglucosylated and localized to lysosomal vesicles. In contrast, the S and L proteins are secreted, and their glycosylation state is unaffected by the presence of the inhibitor. Site-directed mutagenesis provides evidence that virion secretion requires the glycosylation sequon in the pre-S2 domain of M. This highlights the potential role of the M protein oligosaccharide as a therapeutic target.

Characterization of protein glycosylation by mass spectrometry

Electrospray ionization, a natural interface with microbore and capillary high-pressure liquid chromatography, has become the method of choice for the reliable structural characterization of protein glycosylation by mass spectrometry at the picomole level. Its advantages include inherent sensitivity in the femtomole range, compatibility with collisional activation methods that both permit the detection and monitoring of structurally specific ions and enable the induction of glycopeptide fragmentation that facilitates determination of glycoform sequence and branching. Developments in high-performance electrospray mass spectrometry include sample introduction at nanoliter flow rates, tandem magnetic sector/orthogonal time-of-flight instruments, Fourier transform instruments, and new ion optical strategies, including ion traps. Although a sensitive and important complementary technique, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry suffers from matrix-dependent deposition of excess internal energies, which produce extensive metastable fragmentation and (photo)adduct formation. These metastable fragments may be focused into a mass spectrum by employing an ion mirror (reflectron) in time-of-flight instrumentation. In favorable cases, structural information may be obtained.

Determination of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) components in crude plant extract using high-performance liquid chromatography-UV-visible photodiode-array detection-mass spectrometry

The determination of saffron components in crude plant extracts by high-performance liquid chromatography-UV-visible photodiode-array detection on-line with mass spectrometry is described. The method is shown to be suitable for the determination of picrocrocin, the glycosidic precursor of safranal, safranal and flavonoids; it is the technique of choice for the analysis of crocetin glycosides (crocins) carrying one up to five glucoses and differentiation of their trans and cis isomers.

A detailed structural characterization of ribonuclease B oligosaccharides by 1H NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry

The structures of ribonuclease B oligosaccharides have previously been shown to be high mannose type by methylation analyses and sequential exoglycosidase digestion. Due to the unique nature of these oligosaccharides, in that all mannosyl residues are attached by alpha-(1-->2)-linkages beyond the branch points, methylation analysis fails to solve the exact structures beyond Man5. Therefore, we have undertaken this study using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. In this study, bovine pancreatic ribonuclease B was first reduced and carboxymethylated, and was then deglycosylated by peptide/N-glycosidase F (PNGase F). The released oligosaccharides were fractionated by Bio-Gel P-4 chromatography to give five pools, Man5 through Man9. The structures of the oligosaccharide pools were then studied by laser desorption time of flight mass spectrometry and 1H NMR spectroscopy at 300 MHz. For Man5, Man-A and Man-B are attached in alpha-(1-->3)- and alpha-(1-->6)-linkages to the alpha-(1-->6)-linked Man-4' of the pentasaccharide core structure. For Man6, Man-C is linked alpha-(1-->2) to the alpha-(1-->3)-linked Man-4. Man7 exists as three structural isomers, and has the additional mannosyl residue (Man-D) linked alpha-(1-->2) to Man-A, Man-B, and Man-C is linked alpha-(1-->2) to the alpha-(1-->3)-linked Man-4. Man-7 exists as three structural isomers, with the additional two mannosyl residues linked alpha-(1-->2) to Man-A, Man-B, and Man-C. For each position, Man-A, Man-B, and Man-C, the extent of occupancy by one of the additional alpha-(-->)-linked mannosyl residues was 15, 94, and 91%, respectively. Man9 is a single component, with the three additional mannosyl residues linked alpha-(1-->2) to Man-A, Man-B, and Man-C, respectively. The relative molar proportions of Man5 to Man9 are 57, 31, 4, 7, and 1%, respectively. This report presents for the first time the complete structural characterization of the oligosaccharides from ribonuclease B.

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry of pyridylaminated oligosaccharide derivatives: sensitivity and in-source fragmentation

Oligosaccharide chains fluorescence-labelled at their reducing end with 2-aminopyridine were analysed by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESIMS). Protonated molecules of complex type oligosaccharides were detectable at a level of 1 pmol. Fragmentation at the glycosidic bonds occurred in the electrospray ion source when the voltage between the capillary nozzle and the first skimmer was elevated, referred to as "in-source fragmentation". Most fragment ions observed had retained the pyridylaminated (PA) site of the molecule and gave significant information on the saccharide sequence. In conjunction with the accumulating data of reversed-phase chromatography of PA oligosaccharides, ESIMS of PA oligosaccharide will be useful as a sensitive method in the structural study of oligosaccharides from various biological sources.

Collision-induced dissociation of alkali metal cationized and permethylated oligosaccharides: Influence of the collision energy and of the collision gas for the assignment of linkage position

Tandem mass spectrometry has been used to study the collision-induced decomposition of [M+Na](+) ions of permethylated oligosaccharides. It is shown that many linkage positions in one compound may be determined by the presence or absence, in a single spectrum, of specific fragment ions that arise from the cleavage of two ring bonds and that the yield of such ions depends strongly on the collision energy and nature of the collision gas. In contrast to the behavior of monolithiated native oligosaccharides, the collision-induced decomposition of the sodiated and permethylated oligosaccharide samples at low energy leads to preferential cleavage of glycosidic linkages. At high collision energies, the fragment ions formed by cleavage of more than one bond are greatly enhanced, especially when helium is replaced by argon as the collision gas. Furthermore, argon is the more efficient collision gas in inducing fragmentation of the precursor ions. As an example of the application of this method, the discrimination between the 1 → 3 and 1 → 6-linked mannose residues in the common core of N-glycans is described.

Linkage position determination in a novel set of permethylated neutral trisaccharides by collisional-induced dissociation and tandem mass spectrometry

A set of neutral permethylated trisaccharides identical in the non-reducing (A----B) disaccharide and linkage isomeric in the reducing terminal (B----C) disaccharide has been synthesized. Collision-activated tandem mass spectrometry was used for analysis of the B----C linkage position. The trisaccharides, gal(beta 1----4)glc(beta 1----X)glc, where X = 3, 4 and 6, were synthesized and examined using fast atom bombardment collision-induced dissociation tandem mass spectrometry. Results were rationalized using molecular modeling. We have previously reported results for determination of the A----B linkage position with isomeric sets of synthetic trisaccharides containing internal amino sugars. The neutral trisaccharides were synthesized to isolate electronic effects of the amino group. An approach of relating daughter ion to parent ion ratios and collision energy offset was used to generate slopes that predict linkage position in glc beta 1----X glc reducing end glycoside form of terminal trisaccharides.