Radioactive tracer techniques in the sequencing of glycoprotein oligosaccharides

摘要: Complete sequencing of the oligosaccharide units glycoproteins can be performed by conventional physical techniques if nanomole quantities pure molecules are available. However, isolation sufficient a glycoprotein may not technically feasible (e.g., analysis biosynthetic intermediates, or rare molecules). Alternatively, partial structural analyses answer biological question at hand. In both instances, radioactive sugars used to metabolically label glycoprotein, permitting substantial characterization. Several aspects this approach discussed in overview, including selection labeled precursor, maximization uptake and incorporation, determinants specificity labeling, general principles for release oligosaccharides. Particular advantages include simplicity, ease use without sophisticated instrumentation, fact that purification radiom...