Vibrational Raman optical activity of glycoproteins

Abstract

This paper reports the first vibrational Raman optical activity (ROA) spectrum of a glycoprotein. The sample, orosomucoid ( α 1-acid glycoprotein), shows ROA bands characteristic of a high β-sheet content together with new bands which could be specific for the carbohydrate and its association with the protein. Our results suggest that ROA spectra of intact glycoproteins may contain information about both protein and carbohydrate conformation and the mutual influence on each other's stability and conformation.