title: Glycosaminoglycans detection methods: Applications of mass spectrometry.
abstract: Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are long blocks of negatively charged polysaccharides. They are one of the major components of the extracellular matrix and play multiple roles in different tissues and organs. The accumulation of undegraded GAGs causes mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS). GAGs are associated with other pathological conditions such as osteoarthritis, inflammation, diabetes mellitus, spinal cord injury, and cancer. The need for further understanding of GAG functions and mechanisms of action boosted the development of qualitative and quantitative (alcian blue, toluidine blue, paper and thin layer chromatography, gas chromatography, high pressure liquid chromatography, capillary electrophoresis, 1,9-dimethylmethylene blue, enzyme linked-immunosorbent assay, mass spectrometry) techniques. The availability of quantitative techniques has facilitated translational research on GAGs into the medical field for: 1) diagnosis, monitoring, and screening for MPS; 2) analysis of GAG synthetic and degradation pathways; and 3) determination of physiological and pathological roles of GAGs. This review provides a history of development of GAG assays and insights about the use of tandem mass spectrometry and its applications for GAG analysis.
authors.affiliation: Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, USA; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.
authors.forename: Francyne
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kubaski
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Shimane University, Shimane, Japan.
authors.forename: Harumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Osago
authors.affiliation: Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, USA; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Shimane University, Shimane, Japan.
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Shimane University, Shimane, Japan.
authors.forename: Hironori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Shimane University, Shimane, Japan. Electronic address: mikat@med.shimane-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Mikako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsuchiya
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan.
authors.forename: Tadao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Orii
authors.affiliation: Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, USA; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Shimane University, Shimane, Japan; Department of Pediatrics, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan. Electronic address: stomatsu@nemours.org.
authors.forename: Shunji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tomatsu
mesh_terms: D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009083:Mucopolysaccharidoses / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical
chemical_list: D006025:Glycosaminoglycans
keywords: Alcian blue; Chromatography, mucopolysaccharidoses; ELISA; Glycosaminoglycans; Mass spectrometry