Characterization of neutral oligosaccharide-alditols from Xenopus laevis egg jelly coats by matrix-assisted laser desorption Fourier transform mass spectrometry

Influence of Linkage Stereochemistry and Protecting Groups on Glycosidic Bond Stability of Sodium Cationized Glycosyl Phosphates

Energy-resolved collision-induced dissociation (ER-CID) experiments of sodium cationized glycosyl phosphate complexes, [GP _x +Na]⁺, are performed to elucidate the effects of linkage stereochemistry (α versus β), the geometry of the leaving groups (1,2-cis versus 1,2-trans), and protecting groups (cyclic versus non-cyclic) on the stability of the glycosyl phosphate linkage via survival yield analyses. A four parameter logistic dynamic fitting model is used to determine CID_50% values, which correspond to the level of rf excitation required to produce 50% dissociation of the precursor ion complexes. Present results suggest that dissociation of 1,2-trans [GP _x +Na]⁺ occurs via a McLafferty-type rearrangement that is facilitated by a syn orientation of the leaving groups, whereas dissociation of 1,2-cis [GP_x+Na]⁺ is more energetic as it involves the formation of an oxocarbenium ion intermediate. Thus, the C1-C2 configuration plays a major role in determining the stability/reactivity of glycosyl phosphate stereoisomers. For 1,2-cis anomers, the cyclic protecting groups at the C4 and C6 positions stabilize the glycosidic bond, whereas for 1,2-trans anomers, the cyclic protecting groups at the C4 and C6 positions tend to activate the glycosidic bond. The C3 O-benzyl (3 BnO) substituent is key to determining whether the sugar or phosphate moiety retains the sodium cation upon CID. For 1,2-cis anomers, the 3 BnO substituent weakens the glycosidic bond, whereas for 1,2-trans anomers, the 3 BnO substituent stabilizes the glycosidic bond. The C2 O-benzyl substituent does not significantly impact the glycosidic bond stability regardless of its orientation. Graphical abstract ᅟ.

Profiling N-glycans of the egg jelly coat of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and capillary liquid chromatography electrospray ionization-ion trap tandem mass spectrometry systems

Sea urchin eggs are surrounded by a carbohydrate-rich layer, termed the jelly coat, that consists of polysaccharides and glycoproteins. In the present study, we describe two mass spectrometric strategies to characterize the N-glycosylation of the Paracentrotus lividus egg jelly coat, which has an alecithal-type extracellular matrix like mammalian eggs. Egg jelly was isolated, lyophilized, and dialyzed, followed by peptide N-glycosidase F (PNGase-F) treatment to release N-glycans from their protein chain. These N-glycans were then derivatized by permethylation reaction, and analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and capillary liquid chromatography electrospray ionization-ion trap tandem mass spectroscopy (CapLC ESI-Ion trap-MS/MS). N-glycans in the egg jelly coat glycoproteins were indicated by sodiated molecules at m/z 1579.8, 1783.9, 1988.0, 2192.0, and 2397.1 for permethylated oligosaccharides on MALDI-TOF MS. Fragmentation and structural characterization of these oligosaccharides were performed by ESI-Ion trap MS/MS. Then, MALDI-TOF-MS and ESI-Ion trap-MS/MS spectra were interpreted using the GlycoWorkbench software suite, a tool for building, displaying, and profiling glycan masses, to identify the original oligosaccharide structures. The oligosaccharides of the isolated egg jelly coat were mainly of the high mannose type.

Structure determination by MALDI-IRMPD mass spectrometry and exoglycosidase digestions of O-linked oligosaccharides from Xenopus borealis egg jelly

Differences in the fertilization behavior of Xenopus borealis from X. laevis and X. tropicalis suggest differences in the glycosylation of the egg jellies. To test this assumption, O-linked glycans were chemically released from the egg jelly coat glycoproteins of X. borealis. Over 50 major neutral glycans were observed, and no anionic glycans were detected from the released O-glycan pool. Preliminary structures of ∼30 neutral oligosaccharides were determined using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) infrared multiphoton dissociation tandem mass spectrometry (MS). The mass fingerprint of a group of peaks for the core-2 structure of O-glycans was conserved in the tandem mass spectra and was instrumental in rapid and efficient structure determination. Among the 29 O-glycans, 22 glycans contain the typical core-2 structure, 3 glycans have the core-1 structure and 2 glycans contained a previously unobserved core structure with hexose at the reducing end. There were seven pairs of structural isomers observed in the major O-linked oligosaccharides. To further elucidate the structures of a dozen O-linked glycans, specific and targeted exoglycosidase digestions were carried out and the products were monitored with MALDI-MS. Reported here are the elucidated structures of O-linked oligosaccharides from glycoproteins of X. borealis egg jelly coats. The structural differences in O-glycans from jelly coats of X. borealis and its close relatives may provide a better understanding of the structure-function relationships and the role of glycans in the fertilization process within Xenopodinae.

Mass spectrometry and glycomics

Glycosylation defines the adhesive properties of animal cell surfaces and the surrounding extracellular environments. Because cells respond to stimuli by altering glycan expression, glycan structures vary according to spatial location in tissue and temporal factors. These dynamic structural expression patterns, combined with the essential roles glycans play in physiology, drive the need for analytical methods for glycoconjugates. In addition, recombinant glycoprotein drug products represent a multibillion dollar market. Effective analytical methods are needed to speed the identification of new targets and the development of industrial glycoprotein products, both new and biosimilar. Mass spectrometry is an enabling technology in glycomics. This review summarizes mass spectrometry of glycoconjugate glycans. The intent is to summarize appropriate methods for glycans given their chemical properties as distinct from those of proteins, lipids, and small molecule metabolites. Special attention is given to the uses of mass spectral profiling for glycomics with respect to the N-linked, O-linked, ganglioside, and glycosaminoglycan compound classes. Next, the uses of tandem mass spectrometry of glycans are summarized. The review finishes with an update on mass spectral glycoproteomics.

Analysis of underivatized oligosaccharides by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry with post-column addition of formic acid

Underivatized oligosaccharides were analyzed by electrospray ionization (ESI) using a linear ion trap mass spectrometer in the negative ion mode with post-column addition of an aqueous solution of formic acid. Under these conditions all oligosaccharides showed the presence of the corresponding formate adduct [M + HCOO](-) with high intensity and easy subsequent low-energy collision-induced dissociation (CID) fragmentation using successive MS(n) experiments. A careful examination of the mass spectra obtained from these MS(n) experiments pointed out some significant differences useful to identify and quantify the single components in mixtures of coeluted disaccharides. This new sensitive and rapid method was successfully applied to the quantification of oligosaccharides in some juices minimizing sample handling.

Collision-induced dissociation tandem mass spectrometry for structural elucidation of glycans

The complexity of glycans poses a major challenge for structure elucidation. Tandem mass spectrometry is currently an efficient and powerful technique for the structural characterization of glycans. Collision-induced dissociation (CID) is most commonly used, and involves first isolating the glycan ions of interest, translationally exciting them, and then striking them with inert target gas to fragment the precursor ions. The structural information of the glycan can be obtained from the fragment ions of the tandem MS spectra. In this chapter, sustained off-resonance irradiation-collision-induced dissociation (SORI-CID) implemented with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (MALDI FT ICR MS) is demonstrated to be a useful analysis tool for structural elucidation of mucin-type O-glycans released from mucin glycoproteins. The mechanisms by which the glycans undergo fragmentations in the tandem mass analysis are also discussed.

Laser-induced dissociation/high-energy collision-induced dissociation fragmentation using MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS instrumentation for the analysis of neutral and acidic oligosaccharides

Producing detailed mass spectrometric fragmentation data of native oligosaccharides for the purpose of basic structure elucidation has become a readily accessible tool since the availability of enhanced technical equipment. In this report, high-energy collision-induced dissociation (heCID) in combination with MALDI-TOF/TOF technology for analysis of native neutral and acidic oligosaccharides is described. By providing complementary data, heCID-MALDI-TOF/TOF adds a variety of valuable cross-ring fragmentation information to the information of glycosidic fragmentation obtained preferably by laser-induced dissociation (LID). We examined parameters influencing fragmentation behavior of both-acidic and neutral-compounds. Results show a dependency of the fragmentation pattern for the employed matrix as well as the laser intensity provided for the ionization of the analytes and the complexity of the analytes. Due to instrument-specific settings, protonated glycosidic ion series within spectra of sodiated compounds could also be identified. Furthermore, acquired spectra could be readily used to identify compounds by comparison to existing glycan databases such as GlycoSuiteDB and GlycosciencesDB. The results show a better scoring of heCID data sets in comparison to LID-derived data. heCID-MALDI-TOF/TOF analysis in combination with database search algorithms is demonstrated to be suitable for an initial identification/classification of carbohydrates.

Infrared multiphoton dissociation of O-linked mucin-type oligosaccharides

Oligosaccharides are known to play important roles in many biological processes. In the study of oligosaccharides, collision-induced dissociation (CID) is the most common dissociation method to elucidate the sequence and connectivity. However, a disadvantage of CID is the decrease in both the degree and efficiency of dissociation with increasing mass. In the present study, we have successfully performed infrared multiphoton dissociation (IRMPD) on 39 O-linked mucin-type oligosaccharide alditols (both neutral and anionic). CID and IRMPD spectra of several oligosaccharides were also compared. They yielded nearly identical fragment ions corresponding to the lowest energy fragmentation pathways. The characteristic fragmentations of structural motifs, which can provide the linkage information, were similarly presented in both CID and IRMPD spectra. Multistage of CID (MS(3) or MS(4)) is commonly needed to completely sequence the oligosaccharides, while IRMPD of the same compounds yielded the fragment ions corresponding to the loss of the first residue to the last residue during a single-stage tandem MS (MS(2)). Finally, it is shown that the fragmentation efficiency of IRMPD increases with the increasing size of oligosaccharides.

Interrogation of N-Linked Oligosaccharides Using Infrared Multiphoton Dissociation in FT-ICR Mass Spectrometry

The structural elucidation of oligosaccharides remains a major challenge. Mass spectrometry provides a rapid and convenient method for structural elucidation based on tandem mass spectrometry. Ions commonly are selected and subjected to collision-induced dissociation (CID) to obtain structural information. Unfortunately, N-linked oligosaccharides are relatively large compounds and are not readily fragmented using CID. In this report, we illustrate the use of infrared multiphoton dissociation (IRMPD) to obtain structural information for large N-linked oligosaccharides. The IRMPD and CID behavior of oligosaccharides were compared for high-mannose-type oligosaccharides. Fragmentation that could not be obtained through conventional CID in Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry was observed with N-linked oligosaccharides. O-Linked and N-linked glycans of similarly large sizes were compared. It was found that internal cross-ring cleavages were observed only for N-linked oligosaccharides. The mannose branch points of N-linked oligosaccharides are apparently more susceptible to cross-ring cleavages.

The detection of red pigment-concentrating hormone (RPCH) in crustacean eyestalk tissues using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-Fourier transform mass spectrometry: [M + Na]+ ion formation in dried droplet tissue preparations

Red pigment-concentrating hormone (RPCH), an octapeptide found in crustaceans and insects with the sequence pGlu-Leu-Asn-Phe-Ser-Pro-Gly-Trp-NH2, is an N- and C-terminally blocked uncharged peptide. These structural features are shared with many members of the larger adipokinetic hormone (AKH)/RPCH peptide family in insects. We have applied vacuum UV matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI)-Fourier transform ion cyclotron mass spectrometry (FTMS) to the direct analysis of crustacean sinus gland tissues, using 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB) as the MALDI matrix, and have found that RPCH is detected in the cationized, [M + Na]+, form under conditions where other peptides in the direct tissue spectra are protonated without accompanying [M + Na]+ or [M + K]+ satellite peaks. The [M + H]+ ion for RPCH is not detected in tissue samples or for an RPCH standard, even when care is taken to eliminate metal ions. This behavior is not unprecedented; however, both direct tissue spectra and SORI-CID spectra provide no clues to suggest that the ionizing agent is a metal cation. In this communication, we characterize the MALDI-FTMS ionization and SORI-CID mass spectra of the [M + Na]+ and [M + K]+ ions from RPCH, and report on the detection of this neuropeptide in sinus gland tissues from the lobster Homarus americanus and the kelp crab Pugettia producta. We describe two strategies, an on-probe extraction procedure and a salt-doping approach, that can be applied to previously analyzed MALDI tissue samples to enhance and unmask sodiated peptides that may otherwise be mistaken for novel neuropeptides.

Sensitive LC MS quantitative analysis of carbohydrates by Cs+ attachment

The development of a sensitive assay for the quantitative analysis of carbohydrates from human plasma using LC/MS/MS is described in this paper. After sample preparation, carbohydrates were cationized by Cs(+) after their separation by normal phase liquid chromatography on an amino based column. Cesium is capable of forming a quasi-molecular ion [M + Cs](+) with neutral carbohydrate molecules in the positive ion mode of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The mass spectrometer was operated in multiple reaction monitoring mode, and transitions [M + 133] --> 133 were monitored (M, carbohydrate molecular weight). The new method is robust, highly sensitive, rapid, and does not require postcolumn addition or derivatization. It is useful in clinical research for measurement of carbohydrate molecules by isotope dilution assay.

Application of Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry to oligosaccharides

The application of Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR MS) to the structural elucidation of oligosaccharides is described. This review covers the analyses of oligosaccharides in the context of the unique features of FTICR MS and the improvements in instrumentation that make it possible to study this class of compounds. It consists of work performed initially to understand the fundamental aspects of oligosaccharide ionization and unimolecular fragmentation. More recent investigation includes the application of the technique to samples of direct biological origin. Chemical and enzymatic degradation methods in conjunction with mass spectrometry (MS) and the use front-end methods with FTICR MS are also discussed. The current applications including the characterization of bacterial lipooligosaccharides and phosporylated carbohydrates are described.

Methods in enzymology: O-glycosylation of proteins

Cell surface and extracellular proteins are O-glycosylated, where the most abundant type of O-glycosylation in proteins is the GalNAc attachment to serine (Ser) or threonine (Thr) in the protein chain by an a-glycosidic linkage. Most eukaryotic nuclear and cytoplasmic proteins modified by a-linked O-GlcNAc to Ser or Thr exhibit reciprocal O-GlcNAc glycosylation and phosphorylation during the cell cycle, cell stimulation, and/or cell growth. Less-investigated types of O-glycosylation are O-fucosylation, O-mannosylation, and O-glucosylation, but they are functionally of high relevance for early stages of development and for vital physiological functions of proteins. Glycosaminoglycans are a-linked to proteoglycans via a xylose-containing tetrasaccharide, represented by linear chains of repetitive disaccharides modified by carboxylates and O- or/and N-linked sulfates. Analysis of O-glycosylation by mass spectrometry (MS) is a complex task due to the high structural diversity of glycan and protein factors. The parameters in structural analysis of O-glycans include determination of (i) O-glycosylation attachment sites in the protein sequence, (ii) the type of attached monosaccharide moiety, (iii) a core type in the case of GalNAc O-glycosylation, (iv) the type and size of the oligosaccharide portion, (v) carbohydrate branching patterns, (vi) the site of monosaccharide glycosidic linkages, (vii) the anomericity of glycosidic linkages, and (viii) covalent modifications of the sugar backbone chains by carbohydrate- and noncarbohydrate-type of substitutents. Classical and novel analytical strategies for identification and sequencing of O-glycans by MS are described. These include methods to analyze O-glycans after total or partial release from the parent protein by chemical or enzymatic approach or to analyze O-glycosylated peptides by mapping and sequencing from proteolytic mixtures. A recombination process of multiply charged glycopeptides with electrons by electron capture dissociation Fourier transform ion cyclotrone resonance (FTICR)-MS has been introduced and is instrumental for nonergodic polypeptide backbone cleavages without losses of labile glycan substituents. A method for O-glycoscreening under increased sensitivity and efficient sequencing as a combination of an on-line coupling of capillary electrophoresis separation, as well as an automated MS-tandem MS (MS/MS) switching under variable energy conditions collision-induced dissociation (CID) protocol, is beneficial for determination of O-acetylation and oversulfation (Bindila et al., 2004a; Zamfir et al., 2004a). O-glycomics by robotized chip-electrospray/ionization (ESI)-MS and MS/MS on the quadrupole time-of-flight (QTOF) and FTICR analyzers, accurate mass determination, and software for assignment of fragmentation spectra represent essentials for high-throughput (HTP) in serial screenings (Bindila et al., 2004b; Froesch et al., 2004; Vakhrushev et al., 2005). Dimerization of intact O-glycosylated proteins can be investigated by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF)-MS after blotting.

Competing fragmentation processes in tandem mass spectra of heparin-like glycosaminoglycans

Heparin-like glycosaminoglycans (HLGAGs) are highly sulfated, linear carbohydrates attached to proteoglycan core proteins and expressed on cell surfaces and in basement membranes. These carbohydrates bind several families of growth factors and growth factor receptors and act as coreceptors for these molecules. Tandem mass spectrometry has the potential to increase our understanding of the biological significance of HLGAG expression by providing a facile means for sequencing these molecules without the need for time-consuming total purification. The challenge for tandem mass spectrometric analysis of HLGAGs is to produce abundant ions derived via glycosidic bond cleavages while minimizing the abundances of ions produced from elimination of the fragile sulfate groups. This work describes the competing fragmentation pathways that result from dissociation of high negative charge state ions generated from HLGAGs. Glycosidic bond cleavage ion formation competes with losses of equivalents of H2SO4, resulting in complex ion patterns. For the most highly sulfated structure examined, an octasulfated tetramer, an unusual loss of charge from the precursor ion was observed, accompanied by low abundance ions originating from subsequent backbone cleavages. These results demonstrate that fragmentation processes competing with glycosidic bond cleavages are more favored for highly sulfated HLGAG ions. In conclusion, reduction of charge-charge repulsions, such as is achieved by pairing the HLGAG ions with metal cations, is necessary in order to minimize the abundances of ions derived via fragmentation processes that compete with glycosidic bond cleavages.

Method for the Comparative Glycomic Analyses of O-Linked, Mucin-Type Oligosaccharides

A method is presented for the direct relative quantitation of distinct O-linked mucin-type oligosaccharides. Mucin-type oligosaccharides are found in a host of tissues from anuran to humans. Because they are often associated with extracellular matrix, they play important roles in cell-cell recognition. Changes in glycosylation of O-linked oligosaccharides are associated with diseases such as cancer. In fertilization, they play an active role in sperm-egg recognition. We describe a method for observing changes in glycosylation of mucin-type oligosaccharides by incorporating deuterium in the release procedure. Oligosaccharides from two different sources are released separately by sodium tetrahydroborate and sodium tetradeuterioborate. The oligosaccharides are combined and separated into components by HPLC. By observing the ratio of deuterated and undeuterated species, changes in glycosylation are precisely quantified. This method is illustrated with mucin-type oligosaccharides from the egg jelly coat of the anuran Xenopus laevis.

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.

Infrared multiphoton dissociation of alkali metal-coordinated oligosaccharides

Infrared multiphoton dissociation (IRMPD) of alkali metal-coordinated oligosaccharides was obtained in a Fourier transform mass spectrometer. Fragmentation of the oligosaccharides was observed for Li+- and Na+-coordinated species. For larger alkali metal ions (K+, Rb+, and Cs+), the major products were the alkali metal ions. IRMPD experiments were performed on milk oligosaccharides, and the dissociation thresholds were determined. The threshold values were found to differ for the isomers. It is suggested that the threshold may be useful for differentiating isomeric compounds. Additionally, oligosaccharide alditols from biological samples were analyzed. Comparison of the collision-induced dissociation (CID) and IRMPD spectra of oligosaccharide alditols revealed that IRMPD could be used as a complementary method to obtain structural information.

Infrared laser isolation of ions in Fourier transform mass spectrometry

A new method for isolating ions for tandem mass spectrometry analyses in Fourier transform mass spectrometry is illustrated. The method employs an infrared laser to dissociate completely the undesired ions. The selected ions are excited to an orbit away from the degradative portion of the laser beam. Ion isolation was accomplished and tandem mass spectrometry experiments were performed on model oligosaccharides and compounds from biological samples.

High-avidity, low-affinity multivalent interactions and the block to polyspermy in Xenopus laevis

The interaction of the lectin XL35 with the jelly coat protein (JCP) surrounding oocytes in Xenopus laevis is essential for the block to polyspermy. The molecular details of this event are poorly understood, and the present study has been undertaken with a view to delineating the mechanism of formation of the fertilization envelope. A range of JCP-derived oligosaccharides were synthesized, and all were installed with an artificial aminopropyl arm. This arm allowed the preparation of monovalent derivatives by acetylation of the amino group or the synthesis of polyvalent compounds by attachment to an activated polyacrylamide polymer. A number of analytical techniques, including enzyme-linked lectin assays and surface plasmon resonance, have been developed and utilized to study the interactions of the mono- and polyvalent compounds with XL35. The results reveal that the lectin XL35 has remarkably broad specificity for galactose-containing saccharides and the affinities are only slightly modulated by secondary features, such as anomeric configuration of the terminal sugar or the identity and linkage pattern of branching sugars. Broad specificity was also observed when the saccharides were presented in a polyvalent fashion. The glycopolymers displayed 10-20-fold increases in valency-corrected affinities compared to the corresponding monovalent counterparts. Although the synthetic polymers are not as potent as the JCP, the kinetics of their interactions mirror closely those of the native ligand, and in each case extremely long-lived interactions were observed. The results of this study indicate that, in X. laevis, the true biological function of multivalency is not to create an extremely tightly binding complex between XL35 and its natural ligand but, instead, to create a very stable protective layer that will not dissociate and is yet flexible enough to encapsulate the developing embryo. It is postulated that, even if these partners are unable to attain true equilibrium on the time scale of the biological event, their mode of interaction would, nevertheless, be expected to guarantee an insurmountable physical block to polyspermy. This study has also highlighted that multivalent interactions require a very long time to achieve equilibrium, and this feature may well be the origin of several of the ambiguities reported in the literature when multivalent ligands have been evaluated.

Non-covalent calixarene-amino acid complexes formed by MALDI-MS

Non-covalent inclusion complexes formed between amino acids and derivatized calix[6]arenes are observed in MALDI mass spectrometry. The methyl, ethyl, and propyl ester derivatives of calix[6]arene yielded amino acid complexes, while the smaller calix[4]arene analogs did not. Similarly the underivatized calix[6]arene and calix[4]arene did not produce complexes. Amino acid complexes were observed for nearly all 20 amino acids in time-of-flight (TOF) analysis. In Fourier transform mass spectrometry (FTMS) analysis, however, only the most basic amino acids arginine, histidine, and lysine formed stable adducts. The complexes were abundant under matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) conditions, which suggested favorable interactions between host and guest.

Evidence for long-range glycosyl transfer reactions in the gas phase

A long-range glycosyl transfer reaction was observed in the collision-induced dissociation Fourier transform (CID FT) mass spectra of benzylamine-labeled and 9-aminofluorene-labeled lacto-N-fucopentaose I (LNFP I) and lacto-N-difucohexaose I (LNDFH I). The transfer reaction was observed for the protonated molecules but not for the sodiated molecules. The long-range glycosyl transfer reaction involved preferentially one of the two L-fucose units in labeled LNDFH I. CID experiments with labeled LNFP I and labeled LNFP II determined the fucose with the greatest propensity for migration. Further experiments were performed to determine the final destination of the migrating fucose. Molecular modeling supported the experiments and reaction mechanisms are proposed.

MALDI-FTMS characterization of oligosaccharides labeled with 9-aminofluorene

9-Aminofluorene (9AmFL) was investigated as an oligosaccharide label. The label was amenable to high UV detectability but did not interfere with mass spectrometric analysis. The 9AmFL label has high molar absorptivity (epsilon = 1.4 x 10(4) L cm(-1) mol(-1) at lambda = 267 nm), is chemically stable, and adds easily in reductive amination to the aldehyde terminus of oligosaccharides. Various linear and branched oligosaccharides were labeled with 9AmFL and the products were purified by chromatography on porous graphitized carbon (PGC). The derivatization reaction gave excellent yields (>95%). Up to 100-fold increase in UV sensitivity at lambda = 206 nm, compared to the corresponding alditol, was observed. Mass spectra were recorded for the labeled compounds. In the presence of sodium dopant, series of Y- and B-fragments were observed. Protonation of the labeled compounds prior to mass spectrometric analysis resulted in simplified spectra (Y-fragments only) and allowed for complete sequence analysis. The retention of the positive charge at the label in the protonated species was consistent with the basicity of the amine. The smallest amount of labeled sugar to be detected by photo-diode array (PDA) was 5 pmol (lambda = 267 nm).

Targeted use of exoglycosidase digestion for the structural elucidation of neutral O-linked oligosaccharides

Exoglycosidase digestion in combination with the catalog-library approach (CLA) is used with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization Fourier transform mass spectrometry (MALDI-FTMS) to obtain the complete structure of oligosaccharides. The CLA is a collision-induced dissociation (CID)-based method used to determine the structure of O-linked neutral oligosaccharides. It provides both linkage and stereochemical information. Exoglycosidases are used to confirm independently the validity of the CLA. In some cases, the CLA provides structural information on all but a single residue. Exoglycosidase is used to refine these structures. In this way, exoglycosidase use is targeted employing only a small number of enzymes. Exoglycosidase arrays, which have been used with N-linked oligosaccharides, is avoided despite the larger variations in structures of O-linked species.

Identification and structural elucidation of lectin-binding oligosaccharides by bioaffinity matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization Fourier transform mass spectrometry

Cortical granule lectin (CGL) is released by the egg of the South African toad Xenopus laevis upon fertilization. The lectin binds to oligosaccharides in the extracellular matrix of the egg to form a physical block to prevent additional sperm penetration or polyspermy. To identify the oligosaccharides that bind to CGL, the lectin was immobilized on the surface of a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization probe. This bioaffinity probe was used to determine oligosaccharides that bind preferentially to CGL. Structural analyses based on collision-induced dissociation was used to determine that oligosaccharides with the sulfate esters at the nonreducing ends preferentially bind to the lectin.

Stabilization and linkage analysis of metal-ligated sialic acid containing oligosaccharides

The dissociation of metal-ligated sialyllactose and sialyl-N-acetyllactosamine was investigated. Metal-ligand derivatization of the carbohydrate samples with the diethylenetriamine ligand and one of four transition metals [Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II)] suppressed sialic acid loss in the collision-induced dissociation process. Suppression of sialic acid loss allows sialic acid linkage information to be gained through tandem mass spectrometry. Sialic acid stabilization is postulated to occur due to the doubly charged metal ion which allows for deprotonation of the sialic acid moiety. Furthermore, a connection between the metal center and the amount of sialic acid loss was found. These results were rationalized using the Irving-Williams series and a competition between different sites of deprotonation. Analysis of the product ion spectra showed a clear differentiation of sialic acid linkage. Linkage determination is proposed to be effective due to the available conformations allowed by the different linkages. A more flexible linkage will allow more coordination of the sialic acid residue with the metal center, whereas a less flexible linkage will make this interaction unlikely.

Profiling with structural elucidation of the neutral and anionic O-linked oligosaccharides in the egg jelly coat of Xenopus laevis by Fourier transform mass spectrometry

A strategic method with high speed and sensitivity is outlined for the analysis of mucin-type oligosaccharide from the jelly coat of Xenopus laevis. The method relies primarily on mass spectrometric techniques, in this case matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization Fourier-transform mass spectrometry (MALDI-FTMS) and collision-induced dissociation (CID). Separation with isolation of the oligosaccharides was streamlined to couple well with mass spectrometry allowing the rapid determination of all detectable components from both neutral and anionic species. Partial structures of anionic components, composed primarily of sulfate esters, were obtained with CID. For neutral species, a method that allowed the complete structural determination using mass spectrometry was used. The method builds on the structure of small number of known compounds to determine unknown structures from the same biological source. In this example, a small number of oligosaccharides, elucidated previously by NMR, were used to develop a set of substructural motifs that were characterized by CID. The presence of the motifs in the CID spectra were then used to determine the structures of unknown compounds that were in abundances too small for NMR analysis.

Offline coupling of low-pressure anion-exchange chromatography with MALDI-MS to determine the elution order of human milk oligosaccharides

Pooled human milk oligosaccharides were separated into neutral and several acidic oligosaccharide fractions by preparative anion-exchange chromatography (AEC) using AG 1-X2. The oligosaccharides were eluted stepwise using deionized water and three different concentrations of ammonium acetate buffer, pH 6.8. The elution order of the compounds was determined directly by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) analysis of the AEC effluent without any cleanup or concentration steps. Up to a concentration of 500 mM ammonium acetate, the masses of acidic oligosaccharides could be detected by screening the fractions in an automated mode. The combination of the improved chromatographic procedure, the applied MALDI matrices, and operating parameters is suitable for the detection of neutral oligosaccharides as well as acidic oligosaccharides. The method provides high sensitivity and mass accuracy, including for the high-molecular-weight monosialylated oligosaccharides up to 2751.5 Da. The applied ionic strength of the anion-exchange eluents enables a rapid and an unambiguous composition assignment by MALDI-MS for neutral, monosialylated, and disialylated oligosaccharides from human milk. The acidic fractions have to be desalted by electrodialysis and were finally analyzed by HPAEC-PAD to get a high-resolution "fingerprint" of structures present in each fraction. From these analyses, it can be concluded that the isomeric variety of monosialylated oligosaccharides occurring in human milk is higher than estimated before.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry of carbohydrates

This review describes the application of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry to carbohydrate analysis and covers the period 1991-1998. The technique is particularly valuable for carbohydrates because it enables underivatised, as well as derivatised compounds to be examined. The various MALDI matrices that have been used for carbohydrate analysis are described, and the use of derivatization for improving mass spectral detection limits is also discussed. Methods for sample preparation and for extracting carbohydrates from biological media prior to mass spectrometric analysis are compared with emphasis on highly sensitive mass spectrometric methods. Quantitative aspects of MALDI are covered with respect to the relationship between signal strength and both mass and compound structure. The value of mass measurements by MALDI to provide a carbohydrate composition is stressed, together with the ability of the technique to provide fragmentation spectra. The use of in-source and post-source decay and collision-induced fragmentation in this context is described with emphasis on ions that provide information on the linkage and branching patterns of carbohydrates. The use of MALDI mass spectrometry, linked with exoglycosidase sequencing, is described for N-linked glycans derived from glycoproteins, and methods for the analysis of O-linked glycans are also covered. The review ends with a description of various applications of the technique to carbohydrates found as constituents of glycoproteins, bacterial glycolipids, sphingolipids, and glycolipid anchors.

Catalog-library approach for the rapid and sensitive structural elucidation of oligosaccharides

We obtained the nearly complete structural elucidation of oligosaccharide components, including sequence, linkage, and even stereochemistry in the picomolar levels. The "catalog-library" approach is used for elucidating the structures of minor components in a mixture of oligosaccharides. Oligosaccharides released from a family of glycoproteins are often composed of a small finite set of monosaccharides. In this regard, the numerous oligosaccharide species are analogous to the products found in syntheses involving combinatorial libraries. The great structural diversity in the library is the result of the nearly infinite combinations in which even a small number of monosaccharides can be arranged. Fortunately, structural similarities exist between different oligosaccharides, as specific substructural motifs are preserved among different compounds. We propose that a catalog of substructural motifs can be identified and characterized by collision-induced dissociation mass spectrometry. The catalog is constructed from a set of known compounds that have been fully structurally elucidated by, for example, nuclear magnetic resonance. The catalog consists of the characteristic fragmentation patterns belonging to a set of specific substructural motifs. Collision-induced dissociation is used to determine the presence of these motifs and reconstruct the structures of less abundant components.

Fragmentation reactions in the mass spectrometry analysis of neutral oligosaccharides

A method is described to obtain multicollision dissociation threshold (MCDT) values. These values provide relative reaction thresholds for dissociation in the three major gas-phase fragmentation reactions of oligosaccharides complexed to alkali metal ions. The quasimolecular ions are produced using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization Fourier transform mass spectrometry. The MCDTs for alkali metal ion dissociation and glycosidic bond and cross-ring cleavages were resolved from the kinetic energy dependence of collision-induced dissociation (CID) products. The relative strengths of alkali metal ion binding to N,N'-diacetylchitobiose (chitobiose) and N,N',N"-triacetylchitotriose (chitotriose) were probed using sustained off-resonance irradiation (SORI) CID. Experiments to evaluate MCDT values and the method for obtaining them were performed by studying alkali metal ion coordinated crown ethers. Molecular dynamic simulations were also performed to provide insight into the alkali metal ion binding of chitin-based oligosaccharides. The relative dissociation thresholds of glycosidic bond cleavages and cross-ring cleavages were determined for various alkali metal ion coordinated oligosaccharides. The activation barriers of glycosidic bond cleavages were found to depend on the size of the alkali metal ion. Cross-ring cleavages were found to be independent of the alkali metal ion but dependent on linkage type. The results suggest that glycosidic bond cleavages are charge-induced while cross-ring cleavages are charge-remote processes.

Alkaline degradation of oligosaccharides coupled with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization Fourier transform mass spectrometry: a method for sequencing oligosaccharides

A new technique for determining sequence and linkage information of underivatized oligosaccharides is developed using alkaline degradation and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization Fourier transform mass spectrometry (MALDI-FTMS). Alkaline degradation (also known as the "peeling" reaction) is a chemical degradation technique that only cleaves the glycosidic bond at the reducing end by beta-elimination to yield a new reducing end. The reaction products are sampled directly with minimal cleanup and monitored by MALDI-FTMS to elucidate the oligosaccharide sequence. Linkage information is provided by cross-ring cleavage fragmentation of the new reducing ends, created by either MALDI source fragmentation or sustained off-resonance irradiation collision-induced dissociation. This method is illustrated by the successful sequence and linkage determination of neutral, branched, fucosylated, and sialylated oligosaccharides. Experiments on differently linked disaccharides are also performed to determine the specificity of the cross-ring cleavage reactions. The power of this technique is enhanced by the Fourier transform mass analyzer, which provides high-resolution, exact mass, and facile tandem mass spectrometry experiments of MALDI-produced ions.