Rapid detection of the alternative N-glycosylation pathway using high pH anion exchange chromatography.

An alternative N-glycosylation pathway using Glc1-3Man5GlcNAc2 as a donor to be transferred to a protein acceptor is found either in Man-P-Dol synthase deficient cells or in wild type CHO cells grown in energy deprivation conditions. Discrimination between oligomannosides of this alternative pathway and oligomannosides of the major one containing the same number of sugar residues Man6-8GlcNAc2 required structural studies. Taking advantage of the specific chromatographic behaviour of glucosylated oligomannosides, in pellicular high pH anion exchange chromatography, we developed a one-step method for the identification of the alternative N-glycosylation pathway compounds differing from those of the major one.