TWO-DIMENSIONAL ELECTROPHORETIC SEPARATION OF CARBOHYDRATES

摘要

Separation methodology is disclosed which allows for the separation of mixtures of carbohydrates into highly resolved detectable bands of carbohydrates. The method involves first reacting a mixture of carbohydrates with charge generating moieties which are capable of fluorescing such as 1-amino-4-naphthalene sulfonic acid (ANSA) to form carbohydrate conjugates. The conjugates are subjected to a first-dimensional gel electrophoresis in a first direction to provide separate bands of carbohydrates in the gel. A band in the gel is removed and subjected to second-dimensional electrophoresis in a second direction which is substantially perpendicular to the first direction. More specific bands of more highly resolved carbohydrates are then formed in the second-dimensional gel. The more specific bands within the second-dimensional gel are then electro-blotted onto a substrate surface and can be viewed in extremely small amounts due to the fluorescent capability of the ANSA when viewed under ultraviolet light.