Enhancing glycan isomer separations with metal ions and positive and negative polarity ion mobility spectrometry-mass spectrometry analyses.
Glycomics has become an increasingly important field of research since glycans play critical roles in biology processes ranging from molecular recognition and signaling to cellular communication. Glycans often conjugate with other biomolecules, such as proteins and lipids, and alter their properties and functions, so glycan characterization is essential for understanding the effects they have on cellular systems. However, the analysis of glycans is extremely difficult due to their complexity and structural diversity (i.e., the number and identity of monomer units, and configuration of their glycosidic linkages and connectivities). In this work, we coupled ion mobility spectrometry with mass spectrometry (IMS-MS) to characterize glycan standards and biologically important isomers of synthetic αGal-containing O-glycans including glycotopes of the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which is the causative agent of Chagas disease. IMS-MS results showed significant differences for the glycan structural isomers when analyzed in positive and negative polarity and complexed with different metal cations. These results suggest that specific metal ions or ion polarities could be used to target and baseline separate glycan isomers of interest with IMS-MS. Graphical abstract Glycan isomers, such as fructose and glucose, show distinct separations in positive and negative ion mode.
Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd, P.O. Box 999, MSIN K8-98, Richland, WA, 99352, USA.
Xueyun
X
Zheng
Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado, 1380 Lawrence Street, Denver, CO, 80204, USA.
Xing
X
Zhang
Department of Chemistry and Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Avenue, El Paso, TX, 79968, USA.
Nathaniel S
NS
Schocker
Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd, P.O. Box 999, MSIN K8-98, Richland, WA, 99352, USA.
Ryan S
RS
Renslow
Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd, P.O. Box 999, MSIN K8-98, Richland, WA, 99352, USA.
Daniel J
DJ
Orton
Department of Chemistry and Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Avenue, El Paso, TX, 79968, USA.
Jamal
J
Khamsi
Department of Chemistry and Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Avenue, El Paso, TX, 79968, USA.
Roger A
RA
Ashmus
Department of Biological Sciences and Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Avenue, El Paso, TX, 79968, USA.
Igor C
IC
Almeida
Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd, P.O. Box 999, MSIN K8-98, Richland, WA, 99352, USA.
Keqi
K
Tang
Center for Biomedical Mass Spectrometry, Boston University School of Medicine, 670 Albany Street, Boston, MA, 02118, USA.
Catherine E
CE
Costello
Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd, P.O. Box 999, MSIN K8-98, Richland, WA, 99352, USA.
Richard D
RD
Smith
Department of Chemistry and Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Avenue, El Paso, TX, 79968, USA. kmichael@utep.edu.
Katja
K
Michael
Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd, P.O. Box 999, MSIN K8-98, Richland, WA, 99352, USA. erin.baker@pnnl.gov.
Erin S
ES
Baker
D002623:Chemistry Techniques, Analytical / Q000379:methods*; D000075663:Ion Mobility Spectrometry; D007477:Ions / Q000737:chemistry; D007536:Isomerism; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008670:Metals / Q000737:chemistry*; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D007477:Ions; D008670:Metals; D011134:Polysaccharides
Glycans; Ion mobility spectrometry; Isomers; Mass spectrometry; O-Glycans