title: Sequencing complex polysaccharides.
abstract: Although rapid sequencing of polynucleotides and polypeptides has become commonplace, it has not been possible to rapidly sequence femto- to picomole amounts of tissue-derived complex polysaccharides. Heparin-like glycosaminoglycans (HLGAGs) were readily sequenced by a combination of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry and a notation system for representation of polysaccharide sequences. This will enable identification of sequences that are critical to HLGAG biological activities in anticoagulation, cell growth, and differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Division of Bioengineering and Environmental Health, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Venkataraman
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shriver
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Raman
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sasisekharan
mesh_terms: D002240:Carbohydrate Sequence; D004187:Disaccharides / Q000737:chemistry; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000737:chemistry*; D006493:Heparin / Q000737:chemistry; D019763:Heparin Lyase / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009608:Nitrous Acid; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000737:chemistry*; D011133:Polysaccharide-Lyases / Q000378:metabolism; D017421:Sequence Analysis; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
chemical_list: D004187:Disaccharides; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D009844:Oligosaccharides; D006493:Heparin; D011133:Polysaccharide-Lyases; C114663:heparinase II; D019763:Heparin Lyase; D009608:Nitrous Acid