The glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are linear polysaccharides expressed on animal cell surfaces and in extracellular matrices. Their biosynthesis is under complex control and confers a domain structure that is essential to their ability to bind to protein partners. Key to understanding the functions of GAGs are methods to determine accurately and rapidly patterns of sulfation, acetylation and uronic acid epimerization that correlate with protein binding or other biological activities. Mass spectrometry (MS) is particularly suitable for the analysis of GAGs for biomedical purposes. Using modern ionization techniques it is possible to accurately determine molecular weights of GAG oligosaccharides and their distributions within a mixture. Methods for direct interfacing with liquid chromatography have been developed to permit online mass spectrometric analysis of GAGs. New tandem mass spectrometric methods for fine structure determination of GAGs are emerging. This review summarizes MS-based approaches for analysis of GAGs, including tissue extraction and chromatographic methods compatible with LC/MS and tandem MS.

中文翻译：

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使用质谱法分析糖胺聚糖

糖胺聚糖 (GAG) 是在动物细胞表面和细胞外基质中表达的线性多糖。它们的生物合成受到复杂的控制，并赋予其与蛋白质伴侣结合的能力所必需的结构域结构。理解 GAG 功能的关键是准确快速地确定与蛋白质结合或其他生物活性相关的硫酸化、乙酰化和糖醛酸差向异构化模式的方法。质谱 (MS) 特别适合用于生物医学目的的 GAG 分析。使用现代电离技术可以准确测定 GAG 寡糖的分子量及其在混合物中的分布。已经开发出与液相色谱直接连接的方法，以允许对 GAG 进行在线质谱分析。用于 GAG 精细结构测定的新串联质谱方法正在出现。本综述总结了基于 MS 的 GAG 分析方法，包括与 LC/MS 和串联 MS 兼容的组织提取和色谱方法。