Glycosyl Linkage Analysis By GC-MS

Purpose
Determination of the linkage positions of sugars in an oligosaccharide or a polysaccharide.

Methods Used  
For glycosyl linkage analysis, the sample is permethylated, depolymerized, reduced, and acetylated; and the resultant partially methylated alditol acetates (PMAAs) is analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

This analysis test for the linkage positions of the following carbohydrates:
arabinose                            rhamnose
fucose                                 xylose
glucuronic acid                    galacturonic acid
mannose                             galactose
glucose   

Amount of Sample Required for Analysis
A minimum of 100-200 micrograms of carbohydrate is required, more if available.

General Criteria for Sample Preparation
Your sample must be extremely pure, as a mixture will not yield much useful information. Glycosyl composition data are usually required prior to glycosyl linkage (methylation) analysis.