Identification of Lipid Anchors: In many cases where a saccharide has a lipid anchor we can hydrolyze it to isolate both a saccharide and a lipid anchor.  Either or both of these can be analyzed further by MS or by NMR.

Positive Ion MALDI of lipid A showing heterogeneity in fatty acid composition.

In addition we offer the following services:

Total Fatty Acid Analysis:  The fatty acids present in the sample can be transesterified into their methyl ester forms and analyzed and quantitated by GCMS.

N and O linked Fatty Acid Analysis:  (Normally necessary for LPS samples only) This analysis can determine whether a fatty acid is linked to the saccharide through a hydroxyl or amino group.

31P NMR:   Many lipid anchors have phosphate residues.  Whether these residues are attached as phosphomonoesters, phosphodiesters or pyrophosphates can be distinguished by NMR.