The separation of chondroitin sulfate disaccharides and hyaluronan oligosaccharides by capillary zone electrophoresis.

We have developed techniques for the separation of unsulfated (2-acetamido-2-deoxy-3-O-(4-deoxy-alpha-L-threo- hex-4-enopyranosyluronicacid)-D-galactose and -D-glucose), monosulfated (2-acetamido-2-deoxy-3- O-(4-deoxy-2-O-sulfo-alpha-L-threo-hex-4-enopyranosyluronic acid)-D-galactose and 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-3-O-(4-deoxy-alpha-L-threo-hex- 4-enopyranosyluronic acid)-4-sulfo-D-galactose and -6-sulfo-D-galactose),disulfated (2-acetamido-2-deoxy-3-O-(4-deoxy-2-O-sulfo-alpha-L-threo-hex-4- enopyranosyluronic acid)-4-sulfo-D-galactose and -6-sulfo-D-galactose and 2-acet-amido-2-deoxy-3-O-(4-deoxy-alpha-L-threo-hex-4-enopy- ranosyluronic acid)-4,6-di-O-sulfo-D-galactose), and trisulfated (2-acetamido-2-deoxy-3-O-(4-deoxy-2-O- sulfo-alpha-L-threo-hex-4-enopyranosyluronic acid)-4,6-di-O-sulfo-D-galactose) isomers of chondroitin using capillary zone electrophoresis. In addition, it is possible to separate oligomers of hyaluronan by similar protocols. These techniques represent a rapid, sensitive, and reproducible technique for the assay of these molecules from digests of connective tissues.