Unravelling the structural complexity of glycolipids with cryogenic infrared spectroscopy.
Nat Commun
; 12(1): 1201, 2021 02 22.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-33619275
ABSTRACT
Glycolipids are complex glycoconjugates composed of a glycan headgroup and a lipid moiety. Their modular biosynthesis creates a vast amount of diverse and often isomeric structures, which fulfill highly specific biological functions. To date, no gold-standard analytical technique can provide a comprehensive structural elucidation of complex glycolipids, and insufficient tools for isomer distinction can lead to wrong assignments. Herein we use cryogenic gas-phase infrared spectroscopy to systematically investigate different kinds of isomerism in immunologically relevant glycolipids. We show that all structural features, including isomeric glycan headgroups, anomeric configurations and different lipid moieties, can be unambiguously resolved by diagnostic spectroscopic fingerprints in a narrow spectral range. The results allow for the characterization of isomeric glycolipid mixtures and biological applications.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Glycolipids
/
Cold Temperature
Language:
En
Journal:
Nat Commun
Journal subject:
BIOLOGIA
/
CIENCIA
Year:
2021
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Germany