The use of the 2-aminobenzoic acid tag for oligosaccharide gel electrophoresis

Gel electrophoresis of fluorophore labeled saccharides provides a rapid and reliable method to screen enzymatic and/or chemical treatments of polysacc harides and glycoconjugates, as well as a sensitive and efficient microscal e method to separate and purify oligosaccharides for further analysis. A si mple and inexpensive method of derivatization and analysis using 2-aminoben zoic acid (anthranilic acid, AA) is described and applied to the extracellu lar polysaccharide released by the desiccation tolerant cyanobacterium Nost oc commune DRH-1. The results of these analyses suggest a possible protecti ve functionality of two pendent groups, as well as a potential relationship between these groups and the desiccation tolerance of the organism. (C) 20 00 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.