Use of high-performance anion exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection for O-glycan determination in yeast

Nat Protoc. 2008;3(6):1026-31. doi: 10.1038/nprot.2008.76.

Abstract

O-glycosylation is a post-translational protein modification that occurs in all eukaryotes. Yeasts have received increasing attention as a host for therapeutic protein production because of their ability to secrete high levels of recombinant protein. Because yeasts such as Pichia pastoris have been shown to O-glycosylate some proteins with varying effects on protein function, it is important to elucidate the nature of this modification. Methods that characterize O-glycosylation on a qualitative and quantitative basis are thus important when considering yeast as a host for therapeutic protein production. This protocol describes the release of O-glycans from a protein sample by -elimination under alkaline conditions using sodium borohydride and sodium hydroxide. The released O-linked oligosaccharides are subsequently processed and then separated by high-performance anion exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection (HPAEC-PAD). An estimation of O-glycan molar occupancy and average O-mannose chain length is ultimately derived. This protocol requires approximately 3 d for completion. This method provides an assessment of O-glycosylation and allows one to correlate the effect of O-glycosylation on protein properties.

MeSH terms

  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / methods
  • Chromatography, Ion Exchange / methods*
  • Fungal Proteins / chemistry
  • Fungal Proteins / metabolism
  • Glycoproteins / chemistry
  • Glycoproteins / metabolism
  • Glycosylation
  • Monosaccharides / analysis
  • Mycology / methods*
  • Polysaccharides / analysis*
  • Polysaccharides / metabolism
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational
  • Yeasts / chemistry*
  • Yeasts / metabolism

Substances

  • Fungal Proteins
  • Glycoproteins
  • Monosaccharides
  • Polysaccharides