Methylation analysis of complex carbohydrates in small amounts: capillary gas chromatography-mass fragmentography of methylalditol acetates obtained from N-glycosidically linked glycoprotein oligosaccharides.

A version of the methylation analysis of complex carbohydrates by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of the methylalditol acetates (H. Björndal, C. G. Hellerquist, B. Lindberg, and S. Svensson (1970) Angew. Chem. 82, 643-674) is described. With this version 100- to 500-pmol samples of N-glycosidically linked glycoprotein oligosaccharides may be analyzed. The method is based on the use of capillary columns which allow the separation of all partially methylated alditol acetates potentially obtained from this group of oligosaccharides and on their selective and sensitive detection by mass fragmentography after chemical ionization with ammonia.