Spatially-resolved exploration of the mouse brain glycome by tissue glyco-capture (TGC) and nano-LC/MS

Anal Chem. 2015 Mar 3;87(5):2869-77. doi: 10.1021/ac504339t. Epub 2015 Feb 13.

Abstract

Tissue glyco-capture (TGC), a highly sensitive MS-compatible method for extraction of glycans from tissue, was combined with structure-specific nano-LC/MS for sensitive and detailed profiling of the mouse brain glycome. Hundreds of glycan structures were directly detected by accurate mass MS and structurally elucidated by MS/MS, revealing the presence of novel glycan motifs such as antennary fucosylation, sulfation, and glucuronidation that are potentially associated with cellular signaling and adhesion. Microgram-level sensitivity enabled glycomic analysis of specific regions of the brain, as demonstrated on not only brain sections (with a one-dimensional spatial resolution of 20 μm) but also isolated brain structures (e.g., the hippocampus). Reproducibility was extraordinarily high (R > 0.98) for both method and instrumental replicates. The pairing of TGC with structure-specific nano-LC/MS was found to be an exceptionally powerful platform for qualitative and quantitative exploration of the brain glycome.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • Chromatography, Liquid / methods
  • Glycomics / methods*
  • Glycosylation
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Nanotechnology / methods
  • Polysaccharides / chemistry*
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry / methods

Substances

  • Polysaccharides