Two-Dimensional Chromatography in the Analysis of Complex Glycans from Transferrin

Oligosaccharides released from human transferrin have been derivatized with 2-aminoacridone (2-AMAC) prior to analysis by either reversed- or normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. These separation methods are complementary and allow distinction between isomeric mono- and disialylated oligosaccharides, which terminate with Siaα2−6Gal or Siaα2−3Gal at the nonreducing end. Collected fractions of 2-AMAC-derivatized glycans were analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, before and after desialylation.