N-linked glycan characterization of heterologous proteins

Methods Mol Biol. 2007:389:139-50. doi: 10.1007/978-1-59745-456-8_10.

Abstract

Our laboratory has focused on the re-engineered of the secretory pathway of Pichia pastoris to perform glycosylation reactions that mimic processing of N-glycans in humans and other higher mammals (1,2). A reporter protein with a single N-linked glycosylation site, a His-tagged Kringle 3 domain of human plasminogen (K3), was used to identify combinations of optimal leader/catalytic domain(s) to recreate human N-glycan processing in the Pichia system. In this chapter we describe detailed protocols for high-throughput purification of K3, enzymatic release of N-glycans, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight and high-performance liquid chromatography analysis of the released N-glycans. The developed protocols can be adapted to the characterization of N-glycans from any purified protein expressed in P. pastoris.

MeSH terms

  • Chromatography, Affinity
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Glycoside Hydrolases / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Kringles
  • Oligosaccharides / analysis
  • Pichia
  • Polysaccharides / analysis*
  • Polysaccharides / chemistry*
  • Proteins / chemistry*
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization

Substances

  • Oligosaccharides
  • Polysaccharides
  • Proteins
  • Glycoside Hydrolases