Potential of electrospray mass spectrometry for structural studies ofO-Glycoamino acids and -peptides with multiple α2,6-Sialosyl-Tn glycosylation

Abstract

Non-derivatized O-glycosylated amino acids and peptides with multiple glycosylation yield molecular and fragment ions on electrospray ionization. Synthetic substrates were used to demonstrate the fragmentation behaviour of the sugar moiety in positive- and negative ion electrospray mass spectrometry (ESMS) at low and high skimmer potentials. The ion sensitivity is higher compared than when using fast atom bombardment desorption. The potential of ESMS for the sequencing of O-glycans is discussed.