Structural Identification of Serum N-glycans Associated with Cancer Progression

Microchip electrophoresis is used (i) to assign structures of serum N-glycans and (ii) quantitatively compare samples derived from ovarian cancer patients and disease-free (control) individuals. Neutralization of native charges from sialic acids present on serum N-glycans allowed direct correlation between electrophoretic mobility and glycan mass. From a calibration curve of the masses and mobilities of known glycan structures, we assigned mobilities to specific N-glycans present in serum previously identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS).