RAPID, SENSITIVE STRUCTURE-ANALYSIS OF OLIGOSACCHARIDES

We have developed an efficient method for the derivatization of oligos accharides, wherein the oligosaccharide is efficiently ligated to a ba sic aminooxyacetyl peptide by oxime formation. The resulting glycopept ide yields much higher sensitivity in matrix-assisted laser desorption /ionization mass spectrometry than does the underivatized oligosacchar ide. Digestion of the glycopeptide by a exoglycosidase array and subse quent mass spectrometric assay of the digestion products provide a sen sitive and rapid way to elucidate the structure of the oligosaccharide , In addition to oligosaccharide sequencing, the ligation reaction bet ween an oligosaccharide and an aminooxyacetyl peptide also provides a potentially very convenient and efficient way for the synthesis of gly copeptides or glycoproteins.