A probe for the versatile analysis and characterization of N-linked oligosaccharides

A novel fluorescent probe, 3-(acetylamino)-6-aminoacridine (AA-Ac), has bee n synthesized and its applicability to the analysis of picomole levels of N -linked glycans investigated, AA-Ac was found to be an excellent derivatiza tion reagent for N-linked glycans, giving at least twice the intensity of f luorescence as its predecessor 2-aminoacridone, AA-Ac-labeled glycans were analyzed by both normal and reversed-phase HPLC. They were also amenable to enzymatic sequencing and analysis by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, free zon e capillary electrophoresis, and capillary electrophoresis/electrospray ion ization mass spectrometry.