A Polymeric Zwitterionic Hydrophilic Probe for Mapping the Human Serum Endogenous Glycopeptidome
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Endogenous glycopeptides in human serum are valuable candidates for disease biomarker discovery, but their low abundance and structural complexity pose significant analytical challenges. In this study, we developed and optimized a robust workflow for enriching and in-depth characterizing the endogenous glycopeptidome using a novel hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) sorbent. The HILIC-based strategy effectively enriched glycopeptides from mono-glycosylated IgG and avidin digests, as well as multi-glycosylated horseradish peroxidase (HRP), demonstrating high selectivity, femtomolar-level sensitivity (down to 1 fmol), reproducibility (RSD > 1), and reusability for up to four cycles. Comprehensive analysis by mass spectrometry (MS) identified 334 endogenous intact N-linked glycopeptides, including 318 N-glycosites from 289 glycoproteins. In addition, 242 endogenous intact O-linked glycopeptides from 38 glycoproteins are identified. These represent one of the most extensive endogenous glycopeptide datasets to date. N-glycans were primarily complex biantennary types, while Core 1 structures dominated O-glycans. Motif analysis revealed a strong preference for canonical N-glycosylation motifs (NXT/NXS) and a nearly equal distribution of O-glycosylation on serine and threonine residues. Gene Ontology analysis indicated functional enrichment in membrane-associated, catalytic, and immune-related processes. This optimized HILIC-MS platform enables sensitive and reproducible glycoproteomic profiling, providing a valuable tool for biomarker discovery.
Source: Journal of Separation Science
DOI: 10.1002/jssc.70343
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W7120061404