DETECTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF OLIGOSACCHARIDES IN COLUMN EFFLUENTS USING SURFACE-PLASMON RESONANCE

Surface plasmon resonance was used to detect oligosaccharides derived from glycoproteins. No sample derivatization or labeling is required f or this technique. Sensor surfaces were prepared by immobilizing lecti ns. In the case of Sambucus nigra agglutinin reactive to terminal sial ic acid or Ricinus communis agglutinin preferring terminal beta-linked galactose, femtomole levels of oligosaccharides could be detected. Us ing this affinity detector system, oligosaccharides and glycopeptides from a chromatographic separation on a gel filtration column were dete cted either by on-line monitoring or by analyzing the fractions indivi dually. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.