IDENTIFICATION OF UNCONJUGATED N-GLYCANS IN STRAWBERRY PLANTS

Strawberry plants were tested for their unconjugated N-glycan (UNG) co ntent. These molecules were found in only 3 cases: in the root, the cr own and in the red fruit. Their identification was realized with both high performance anion exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometri c detection and matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-fl ight mass spectrometry. Analysis revealed a series of oligomannosides from Man(5)GlcNAc to Man(9)GlcNAc in crowns, roots and fruit. Two supp lementary complex UNGs Man(3)XylGlcNAc(2) and Man(3)XylFucGlcNAc(2) we re also detected in the fruit. Quantitatively, the highest UNG content (11 mu g g(-1) fresh weight) was found in the fruit. In conclusion, w e demonstrated that UNGs are not only present in tomato but also in st rawberry plant.