Analysis of oversulfation in a chondroitin sulfate oligosaccharide fraction from bovine aorta by nanoelectrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight and Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

Structural Characterization of Glycosaminoglycan Carbohydrates Using Ultraviolet Photodissociation

Structural characterization of sulfated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) by mass spectrometry has long been a formidable analytical challenge owing to their high structural variability and the propensity for sulfate decomposition upon activation with low-energy ion activation methods. While derivatization and complexation workflows have aimed to generate informative spectra using low-energy ion activation methods, alternative ion activation methods present the opportunity to obtain informative spectra from native GAG structures. Both electron- and photon-based activation methods, including electron detachment dissociation (EDD), negative electron transfer dissociation (NETD), and extreme ultraviolet photon activation, have been explored previously to overcome the limitations associated with low-energy activation methods for GAGs and other sulfated oligosaccharides. Further, implementation of such methods on high-resolution mass spectrometers has aided the interpretation of the complex spectra generated. Here, we explore ultraviolet photodissociation (UVPD) implemented on an Orbitrap mass spectrometer as another option for structural characterization of GAGs. UVPD spectra for both dermatan and heparan sulfate structures display extensive fragmentation including both glycosidic and cross-ring cleavages with the extent of sulfate retention comparable to that observed by EDD and NETD. In addition, the relatively short activation time of UVPD makes it promising for higher throughput analysis of GAGs in complex mixtures.

Chip-based high resolution tandem mass spectrometric determination of fibroblast growth factor-chondroitin sulfate disaccharides noncovalent interaction

Fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) is involved in wound healing and embryonic development. Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), the major components of the extracellular matrix (ECM), play fundamental roles at this level. FGF-GAG noncovalent interactions are in the focus of research, due to their influence upon cell proliferation and tissue regeneration. Lately, high resolution mass spectrometry (MS) coupled with chip-nanoelectrospray (nanoESI) contributed a significant progress in glycosaminoglycomics by discoveries related to novel species and their characterization. We have employed a fully automated chip-nanoESI coupled to a quadrupole time-of-flight (QTOF) MS for assessing FGF-GAG noncovalent complexes. For the first time, a CS disaccharide was involved in a binding assay with FGF-2. The experiments were conducted in 10 mM ammonium acetate/formic acid, pH 6.8, by incubating FGF-2 and CS in buffer. The detected complexes were characterized by top-down in tandem MS (MS/MS) using collision induced-dissociation (CID). CID MS/MS provided data showing for the first time that the binding process occurs via the sulfate group located at C4 in GalNAc. This study has demonstrated that chip-MS may generate reliable data upon the formation of GAG-protein complexes and their structure. Biologically, the findings are relevant for studies focused on the identification of the active domains in longer GAG chains.

Orbitrap mass spectrometry characterization of hybrid chondroitin/dermatan sulfate hexasaccharide domains expressed in brain

In the central nervous system, chondroitin/dermatan sulfate (CS/DS) glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) modulate neurotrophic effects and glial cell maturation during brain development. Previous reports revealed that GAG composition could be responsible for CS/DS activities in brain. In this work, for the structural characterization of DS- and CS-rich domains in hybrid GAG chains extracted from neural tissue, we have developed an advanced approach based on high-resolution mass spectrometry (MS) using nanoelectrospray ionization Orbitrap in the negative ion mode. Our high-resolution MS and multistage MS approach was developed and applied to hexasaccharides obtained from 4- and 14-week-old mouse brains by GAG digestion with chondroitin B and in parallel with AC I lyase. The expression of DS- and CS-rich domains in the two tissues was assessed comparatively. The analyses indicated an age-related structural variability of the CS/DS motifs. The older brain was found to contain more structures and a higher sulfation of DS-rich regions, whereas the younger brain was found to be characterized by a higher sulfation of CS-rich regions. By multistage MS using collision-induced dissociation, we also demonstrated the incidence in mouse brain of an atypical [4,5-Δ-GlcAGalNAc(IdoAGalNAc)2], presenting a bisulfated CS disaccharide formed by 3-O-sulfate-4,5-Δ-GlcA and 6-O-sulfate-GalNAc moieties.

Water ice is a soft matrix for the structural characterization of glycosaminoglycans by infrared matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are a class of heterogeneous, often highly sulfated glycans that form linear chains consisting of up to 100 monosaccharide building blocks and more. GAGs are ubiquitous constituents of connective tissue, cartilage, and the extracellular matrix, where they have key functions in many important biological processes. For their characterization by mass spectrometry (MS) and tandem MS, the high molecular weight polymers are usually enzymatically digested to oligomers with a low degree of polymerization (dp), typically disaccharides. However, owing to their lability elimination of sulfate groups upon desorption/ionization is often encountered leading to a loss of information on the analyte. Here, we demonstrate that, in particular, water ice constitutes an extremely mild matrix for the analysis of highly sulfated GAG disaccharides by infrared matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (IR-MALDI) mass spectrometry. Depending on the degree of sulfation, next to the singly charged ionic species doubly- and even triply charged ions are formed. An unambiguous assignment of the sulfation sites becomes possible by subjecting sodium adducts of the GAGs to low-energy collision-induced dissociation tandem MS. These ionic species exhibit a remarkable stability of the sulfate substituents, allowing the formation of fragment ions retaining their sulfation that arise from either cross-ring cleavages or rupture of the glycosidic bonds, thereby allowing an unambiguous assignment of the sulfation sites.

Multistage Tandem Mass Spectrometry of Chondroitin Sulfate and Dermatan Sulfate

Chondroitin/dermatan sulfate (CS/DS) is a glycosaminoglycan (GAG) found in abundance in extracellular matrices. In connective tissue, CS/DS proteoglycans play structural roles in maintaining viscoelasticity through the large number of immobilized sulfate groups on CS/DS chains. CS/DS chains also bind protein families including growth factors and growth factor receptors. Through such interactions, CS/DS chains play important roles in neurobiochemical processes, connective tissue homeostasis, coagulation, and cell growth regulation. Expression of DS has been observed to increase in cancerous tissue relative to controls. In earlier studies, MS(2) was used to compare the types of CS/DS isomers present in biological samples. The results demonstrated that product ion abundances reflect the types of CS/DS repeats present and can be used quantitatively. It was not clear, however, to which of the CS/DS repeats the product ions abundances were sensitive. The present work explores the utility of MS(3) for structural characterization of CS/DS oligosaccharides. The data show that MS(3) product ion abundances correlate with the presence of DS-like repeats in specific positions on the oligosaccharide chains.

Analysis of Glycosaminoglycans Using Mass Spectrometry

The glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are linear polysaccharides expressed on animal cell surfaces and in extracellular matrices. Their biosynthesis is under complex control and confers a domain structure that is essential to their ability to bind to protein partners. Key to understanding the functions of GAGs are methods to determine accurately and rapidly patterns of sulfation, acetylation and uronic acid epimerization that correlate with protein binding or other biological activities. Mass spectrometry (MS) is particularly suitable for the analysis of GAGs for biomedical purposes. Using modern ionization techniques it is possible to accurately determine molecular weights of GAG oligosaccharides and their distributions within a mixture. Methods for direct interfacing with liquid chromatography have been developed to permit online mass spectrometric analysis of GAGs. New tandem mass spectrometric methods for fine structure determination of GAGs are emerging. This review summarizes MS-based approaches for analysis of GAGs, including tissue extraction and chromatographic methods compatible with LC/MS and tandem MS.

Modern developments in mass spectrometry of chondroitin and dermatan sulfate glycosaminoglycans

Chondroitin sulfate (CS) and dermatan sulfate (DS) are special types of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) oligosaccharides able to regulate vital biological functions that depend on precise motifs of their constituent hexose sequences and the extent and location of their sulfation. As a result, the need for better understanding of CS/DS biological role called for the elaboration and application of straightforward strategies for their composition and structure elucidation. Due to its high sensitivity, reproducibility, and the possibility to rapidly generate data on fine CS/DS structure determinants, mass spectrometry (MS) based on either electrospray ionization (ESI) or matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) brought a major progress in the field. Here, modern developments in MS of CS/DS GAGs are gathered in a critical review covering the past 5 years. The first section is dedicated to protocols for CS/DS extraction from parent proteoglycan, digestion, and purification that are among critical prerequisites of a successful MS experiment. The second part highlights several MALDI MS aspects, the requirements, and applications of this ionization method to CS/DS investigation. An ample chapter is devoted to ESI MS strategies, which employ either capillary- or advanced chip-based sample infusion in combination with multistage MS (MS(n)) using either collision-induced (CID) or electron detachment dissociation (EDD). At last, the potential of two versatile separation techniques, capillary electrophoresis (CE), and liquid chromatography (LC) in off- and/or on-line coupling with ESI MS and MS(n), is discussed, alongside an assessment of particular buffer/solvent conditions and instrumental parameters required for CS/DS mixture separation followed by on-line mass analysis of individual components.

Discrimination of GalNAc (4S/6S) sulfation sites in chondroitin sulfate disaccharides by chip-based nanoelectrospray multistage mass spectrometry

Sulfation pattern within chondroitin sulfate (CS) glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chains is an important post-translational modification that regulates their interaction with proteins. In this context, development of highly efficient and reproducible analytical methods for the investigation of CS sulfation patterns is of high necessity. In this study we report a novel method for straightforward determination of N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) sulfation sites in chondroitin sulfate disaccharides. Our protocol involves combining fully automated chip-based nanoelectrospray (nanoESI) for analyte infusion and ionization in negative ion mode with multistage (MSn) collision-induced dissociation (CID) high capacity ion trap (HCT) mass spectrometry for generation of sequence ions diagnostic for identification of sulfate ester group position within GalNAc residues. The feasibility of this approach is here demonstrated on chondroitin 6-O-sulfate and chondroitin 4-O-sulfate disaccharides. Fragmentation patterns obtained by MS2 and MS3 sequencing stages provided first mass spectrometric data from which sulfation site(s) within GalNAc monosaccharide ring could be unequivocally deciphered. Hence, the method allowed discriminating 4S/6S sulfation sites solely on the basis of MS and multistage MS evidence.

Determination of sulfation pattern in brain glycosaminoglycans by chip-based electrospray ionization ion trap mass spectrometry

Chondroitin sulfate (CS) and dermatan sulfate (DS) glycosaminoglycans display variability of sulfation in their constituent disaccharide repeats during chain elongation. Since a large proportion of the extracellular matrix of the central nervous system (CNS) is composed of proteoglycans, CS/DS disaccharide degree and profile of sulfation play important roles in the functional diversity of neurons, brain development, and some of its pathological states. To investigate the sulfation pattern of CS/DS structures expressed in CNS, we introduced here a novel method based on an advanced system encompassing fully automated chip nanoelectrospray ionization (nanoESI) in the negative ion mode and high capacity ion trap multistage mass spectrometry (MS(2)-MS(3)) by collision-induced dissociation (CID). This method, introduced here for the first time in glycomics of brain glycosaminoglycans, was particularly applied to structural investigation of disaccharides obtained by beta-elimination and digestion with chondroitin B and AC I lyase of hybrid CS/DS chains from wild-type mouse brain. Screening in the chip-MS mode of DS disaccharide fraction resulting after depolymerization with chondroitin B lyase revealed molecular ions assigned to monosulfated disaccharide species having a composition of 4,5-Delta-[IdoA-GalNAc]. By optimized CID MS(2)-MS(3), fragment ions supporting the localization of sulfate ester group at C4 within GalNAc were produced. Chip ESI MS profiling of CS disaccharide fraction obtained by depolymerization of the same CS/DS chain using chondroitin AC I lyase indicated the occurrence of mono- and bisulfated 4,5-Delta-[GlcA-GalNAc]. The site of oversulfation was determined by MS(2)-MS(3), which provided sequence patterns consistent with a rare GlcA-3-sulfate-GalNAc-6-sulfate structural motif. Figure Mouse brain GlcA-3-sulfate-GalNAc-6-sulfate structural motif.

Identification and characterization of active compounds and their metabolites by high-performance liquid chromatography/Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry after oral administration of a herbal extract of Epimedium koreanum Nakai to rats

Epimedium is an important traditional Chinese medicine that is widely used throughout China as a tonic, aphrodisiac, and antirheumatic medicine. Flavonoids are considered to be the active compounds in Epimedium. In the study reported here, high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (HPLC/FTICR-MS) was developed to identify active compounds and their metabolites after oral administration of a herbal extract of Epimedium koreanum Nakai to rats, using parent mass list triggered data-dependent multiple-stage accurate mass analysis at a resolving power of 100 000 in the external calibration mode. Nine flavonoids were identified in rats. The chemical formulae with unsaturation numbers calculated from accurate m/z values of precursor and product ions were used to assign the structures of metabolites and the chemical sites of metabolism. The mass accuracies obtained for all full-scan MS and MS(n) spectra were within 3 ppm (<1 ppm in most cases). The majority of the metabolites identified have been previously reported, but three compounds were noted for the first time in rats. By contrasting the analytical results obtained from the herbal extract with those obtained from biological specimens, the profile of flavonoid biotransformation in Epimedium was obtained and the metabolic pathways of these components, in rats, are described. The results should be of use in targeting potential active ingredients in Epimedium.

Proteoglycanomics: tools to unravel the biological function of glycosaminoglycans

Glycosylation is the most frequent PTM and contributes significantly to the function of proteins depending on the type of glycosylation. Especially glycan structures like the glycosaminoglycans are considered to constitute themselves the major function of the glycoconjugate which is therefore termed proteoglycan. Here we review recent views on and novel tools for analysing the proteoglycanome, which are directly related to the type of glycanation under investigation. We define the major function of the proteoglycanome to be its interaction with various proteins in many different (patho-)physiological conditions. This is exemplified by the differential glycosaminoglycan-interactome of healthy versus arthritic patient sera.