2,4-Dinitrophenylhydrazides of polysialogangliosides

Abstract

Treatment with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine HCl in the presence of dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, converts gangliosides to their dinitrophenylhydrazides. This derivatization is the basis of a useful method for HPLC determination of gangliosides (K. Miyazaki, N. Okamura, Y. Kishimoto and Y.C. Lee (1986) Biochem. J. 235, 755–761). This procedure, however, yields two different G t1b products. By characterizing these two products using plasma desorption mass spectrometry, proton magnetic resonance and other chemical and physical techniques, we found that either one or two of the three sialic acid carboxyl groups in G T1b, were converted to dinitrophenylhydrazides. The remaining underivatized carboxyl groups formed lactones with hydroxyl groups from other carbohydrate residues. Also, while sialic acid residues of G D1a were fully derivatized, only one sialic acid in G D1b, two sialic acids in G T1a and two in G Q1b were converted to dinitrophenylhydrazides, the remaining carboxyl groups probably forming lactones. Sialic acid residues between galactose of the gangliotetraose chain and another sialic acid in polysialogangliosides appear to be underivatized possibly because of steric hindrance.