High-throughput analysis of N-glycans using AutoTip via glycoprotein immobilization

Sci Rep. 2017 Aug 31;7(1):10216. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-10487-8.

Abstract

Analysis of a large number of samples requires an efficient, rapid and reproducible method. Automation is an ideal approach for high-throughput sample preparation. Multi-plexing sample preparation via a 96-well plate format becomes popular in recent years; however, those methods lack specificity and require several cleanup steps via chromatography purification. To overcome these drawbacks, a chemoenzymatic method has been developed utilizing protein conjugation on solid-phase. Previously, sample preparation was successfully performed in a snap-cap spin-column (SCSC) format. However, sample preparation using SCSC is time-consuming and lacks reproducibility. In this work, we integrated the chemoenzymatic technique in a pipette tip (AutoTip) that was operated by an automated liquid handler. We established a multi-step protocol involving protein immobilization, sialic acid modification, and N-glycan release. We first optimized our automated protocol using bovine fetuin as a standard glycoprotein, and then assessed the reproducibility of the AutoTip using isobaric tags for relative N-linked glycan quantification. We then applied this methodology to profile N-glycans from 58 prostate cancer patient urine samples, revealing increased sialyation on urinary N-glycans derived from prostate cancer patients. Our results indicated AutoTip has applications for high-throughput sample preparation for studying the N-linked glycans.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Glycoproteins / metabolism*
  • High-Throughput Screening Assays / instrumentation
  • Humans
  • Immobilized Proteins / metabolism
  • Male
  • N-Acetylneuraminic Acid / chemistry
  • Polysaccharides / analysis*
  • Polysaccharides / urine
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / urine
  • Reproducibility of Results

Substances

  • Glycoproteins
  • Immobilized Proteins
  • Polysaccharides
  • N-Acetylneuraminic Acid