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Enhanced protocol for quantitative N-linked glycomics analysis using Individuality Normalization when Labeling with Isotopic Glycan Hydrazide Tags (INLIGHT)™

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Abstract

The analysis of N-linked glycans using liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry (LC-MS) presents significant challenges, particularly owing to their hydrophilic nature. To address these difficulties, a variety of derivatization methods have been developed to facilitate improved ionization and detection sensitivity. One such method, the Individuality Normalization when Labeling with Isotopic Glycan Hydrazide Tags (INLIGHT)™ strategy for labeling glycans, has previously been utilized in the analysis of N- and O-linked glycans in biological samples. To assess the maximum sensitivity and separability of the INLIGHT™ preparation and analysis pipeline, several critical steps were investigated. First, recombinant and nonrecombinant sources of PNGase F were compared to assess variations in the released glycans. Second, modifications in the INLIGHT™ derivatization step were evaluated including temperature optimization, solvent composition changes, reaction condition length and tag concentration. Optimization of the modified method resulted in 20–100 times greater peak areas for the detected N-linked glycans in fetuin and horseradish peroxidase compared with the standard method. Furthermore, the identification of low-abundance glycans, such as (Fuc)1(Gal)2(GlcNAc)4(Man)3(NeuAc)1 and (Gal)3(GlcNAc)5(Man)3(NeuAc)3, was possible. Finally, the optimal LC setup for the INLIGHT™ derivatized N-linked glycan analyses was found to be a C18 reverse-phase (RP) column with mobile phases typical of RPLC.

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Acknowledgments

This work was performed in part by the Molecular Education, Technology and Research Innovation Center (METRIC) at NC State University, which is supported by the State of North Carolina.

Funding

This work received financial support from the National Institute on Aging at the National Institute of Health (R56AG063885) and North Carolina State University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA

    Jaclyn Gowen Kalmar, Karen E. Butler, Erin S. Baker & David C. Muddiman

  2. Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA

    Erin S. Baker & David C. Muddiman

  3. Molecular Education, Technology, and Research Innovation Center (METRIC), North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA

    David C. Muddiman

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The pooled male and female human plasma samples used in these studies were sourced from a licensed entity, Golden West Biologicals (Temecula, CA). The samples were de-identified by Golden West Biologicals as to which participants were used to make up the male and the female pool. Upon arrival and for this study, we further pooled the male and female plasma 1:1 (v/v) prior to analysis. No data in our study can be linked to any human subject.

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Kalmar, J.G., Butler, K.E., Baker, E.S. et al. Enhanced protocol for quantitative N-linked glycomics analysis using Individuality Normalization when Labeling with Isotopic Glycan Hydrazide Tags (INLIGHT)™. Anal Bioanal Chem 412, 7569–7579 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-020-02892-2

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