High performance capillary electrophoresis as a powerful analytical tool of glycoconjugates

Glycoconjugates constitute an important family of macromolecules having a k ey role in several cellular events. Elucidation of the fine chemical struct ure of their carbohydrate components is necessary for a deeper understandin g of their biological functions. Capillary electrophoresis is a recently de veloped analytical technique with promising applications in the field of ca rbohydrate analysis. Various modes of CE have been used for the resolution of carbohydrates. The absence of charge from neutral carbohydrates has been circumvented by ionization of their hydroxyl groups at high pH, complexati on with charged agents like berate anions and chemical derivatization. Alth ough the absence of chromophores or fluorophores hinders a sensitive detect ion by direct UV or fluorescence detectors, indirect detection is a good al ternative offering satisfying limits of detection. Electrochemical detector s have also been introduced. Pre-column derivatization of carbohydrates wit h a wide range of specific chromophores and fluorophores has offered impres sive sensitivity gains especially when laser-induced fluorescence detectors are used. In this review, the separation mechanisms of carbohydrates using various CE modes are summarized. The recent developments in detecting carb ohydrates and selected applications are also presented.