Quantitative Screening of Cell-Surface Gangliosides by Nondestructive Extraction and Hydrophobic Collection

A screening strategy involving designed extractors and collectors was used for the nondestructive quantitation of gangliosides on cell surfaces. The extractors were constructed by functionalizing maleimide silica bubbles with a DNA probe, which contains an endonuclease cleavage site and a boronic acid end to extract cell-surface sialic acid-containing compounds through simple centrifugation. After the extractors containing the extracted compounds were incubated with endonuclease, the released oligonucleotide-gangliosides were selectively collected by silanized collector bubbles through hydrophobic interactions. The in vitro fluorescent signals from the collectors were used for the quantitation of cell-surface gangliosides. By combining with sialidase cleavage, a protocol for the identification of ganglioside subtypes was developed. The successful monitoring of the regeneration of cell-surface gangliosides demonstrates the potential of this strategy in probing related biological processes.