Abstract
This protocol shows how to obtain a detailed glycan compositional and structural profile from purified glycoproteins or protein mixtures, and it can be used to distinguish different isobaric glycan isomers. Glycoproteins are immobilized on PVDF membranes before the N-glycans are enzymatically released by PNGase F, isolated and reduced. Subsequently, O-glycans are chemically released from the same protein spot by reductive β-elimination. After desalting with cation exchange microcolumns, the glycans are separated and analyzed by porous graphitized carbon liquid chromatographyâelectrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS). Optionally, the glycans can be treated with sialidases or other specific exoglycosidases to yield more detailed structural information. The sample preparation takes approximately 4 d, with a heavier workload on days 2 and 3, and a lighter load on days 1 and 4. The time for data interpretation depends on the complexity of the samples analyzed. This method can be used in conjunction with the analysis of enriched glycopeptides by capillary/nanoLC-ESI-MS/MS, which together provide detailed information regarding the site heterogeneity of glycosylation.
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Acknowledgements
P.H.J. was supported by the Danish Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation (grant 272-07-0066). D.K. was supported by an Erwin Schrödinger Fellowship from the Austrian Science Fund (grant J2661) and Macquarie University. We also thank M. Nakano for the preparation of Figure 5 (based on data from ref. 5).
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All authors contributed equally to this work. N.G.K. developed and validated the initial protocol and performed the analysis of recombinant EPO. P.H.J. tested, optimized and wrote the protocol. D.K. and N.H.P. co-wrote and edited the final manuscript. All authors discussed the results and implications and commented on the manuscript at all stages.
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Jensen, P., Karlsson, N., Kolarich, D. et al. Structural analysis of N- and O-glycans released from glycoproteins. Nat Protoc 7, 1299â1310 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/nprot.2012.063
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nprot.2012.063
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