A convenient microscale colorimetric method for terminal galactose on immunoglobulins

A new approach for quantitative determination of terminal galactose (Gal) residues of immunoglobulins was developed by combining exoglycosidase digestion with the classical colorimetric estimation of reducing sugars. The ferricyanide colorimetric method was modified to increase the stability of the chromophore (Prussian blue) and adapted to determine the amount of terminal Gal residues present in immunoglobulins. The method involves the release of covalently bound Gal from immunoglobulins by Diplococcus pneumoniae beta-D-galactosidase (specific for beta(1,4) linked galactose), removal of the glycoprotein and enzyme from the reaction mixture by heat denaturation or ethanol precipitation, followed by colorimetric measurement of the released sugar using the ferricyanide assay. The ferricyanide method was modified to enhance the solubility and stability of the chromophore by increasing the concentration of aqueous sulfuric acid and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The linear range of the modified method was from approximately 11 to 111 microM Gal. Typical variation in assay results was on the order of 5%. Using the modified method, the terminal Gal content of a recombinant chimeric monoclonal antibody (anti-CD20, rIgG) expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells was determined and evaluated for batch-to-batch consistency. The method was used to optimize pH, time, temperature, and enzyme concentration for beta-galactosidase digestion for maximal release of terminal Gal residues from rIgG.