Chromogenic labeling of milk oligosaccharides: purification by affinity chromatography and structure determination

Oligosaccharides from human milk were derivatized with 4'-N,N-dimethylamino-4-amino-azobenzene (DAAB) by reductive amination and purified by affinity chromatography on immobilized antibodies followed by resolution of the retained antigenic molecules by adsorption chromatography on HPLC. The visibility to the naked eye and the favorable handling properties of the DAAB-oligosaccharides (desalting, quantification) offered distinctive advantages over underivatized oligosaccharides. Analysis by MS and NMR identified the two major antigens as the Lewis a active pentasaccharide and the Lewis b active hexasaccharide, respectively. Further derivation of DAAB-oligosaccharides by palmitoylamidoacetaldehyde generated glycolipid-like compounds suitable for immunological detection by in situ overlay techniques after separation by thin-layer chromatography.