Effects of amine modifiers on the separation of tetramethylrhodamine-labeled mono- and oligosaccharides by capillary zone electrophoresis

In this work, nine tetramethylrhodamine (TMR) labeled isomeric oligosacchar ide derivatives of beta Gal(1-->4) beta GlcNAc-O-TMR were separated by capi llary zone electrophoresis coupled with laser-induced fluorescence detectio n. Charged species were created in situ by complexation with berate and phe nylborate. Micellar separation was achieved by addition of 10 mM sodium dod ecylsulfate to the running buffer. We have investigated the effects of addi ng a homologous series of monoamine modifiers on the separation efficiency of these oligosaccharides. The separation was significantly improved in the presence of the organic modifiers methyl- and ethylamines, but worsened in the presence of propyl- and butylamines. Possible mechanisms of the amine additives are discussed. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved .