Analysis of Synthetic Monodisperse Polysaccharides by Wide Mass Range Ultrahigh-Resolution MALDI Mass Spectrometry

Anal Chem. 2021 Mar 16;93(10):4666-4675. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.1c00239. Epub 2021 Mar 5.

Abstract

Carbohydrates, such as oligo- and polysaccharides, are highly abundant biopolymers that are involved in numerous processes. The study of their structure and functions is commonly based on a material that is isolated from complex natural sources. However, a more precise analysis requires pure compounds with well-defined structures that can be obtained from chemical or enzymatic syntheses. Novel synthetic strategies have increased the accessibility of larger monodisperse polysaccharides, posing a challenge to the analytical methods used for their molecular characterization. Here, we present wide mass range ultrahigh-resolution matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometry (MS) as a powerful platform for the analysis of synthetic oligo- and polysaccharides. Synthetic carbohydrates 16-, 64-, 100-, and 151-mers were mass analyzed and characterized by MALDI in-source decay FT-ICR MS. Detection of fragment ions generated from glycosidic bond cleavage (or cross-ring cleavage) provided information of the monosaccharide content and the linkage type, allowing for the corroboration of the carbohydrate compositions and structures.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Carbohydrates*
  • Fourier Analysis
  • Glycosides
  • Ions
  • Polysaccharides*
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization

Substances

  • Carbohydrates
  • Glycosides
  • Ions
  • Polysaccharides