文摘
Characterization of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), including chondroitin sulfate (CS), dermatan sulfate (DS), and heparan sulfate (HS), is important in developing an understanding of cellular function and in assuring quality of preparations destined for biomedical applications. While use of 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy has become common in characterization of these materials, spectra are complex and difficult to interpret when a more heterogeneous GAG type or a mixture of several types is present. Herein a method based on 1H−15N two-dimensional NMR experiments is described. The 15N- and 1H-chemical shifts of amide signals from 15N-containing acetylgalactosamines in CSs are shown to be quite sensitive to the sites of sulfation (4-, 6-, or 4,6-) and easily distinguishable from those of DS. The amide signals from residual 15N-containing acetylglucosamines in HS are shown to be diagnostic of the presence of these GAG components as well. Most data were collected at natural abundance of 15N despite its low percentage. However enrichment of the 15N-content in GAGs using metabolic incorporation from 15N-glutamine added to cell culture media is also demonstrated and used to distinguish metabolic states in different cell types.