Solid-phase radiolabeling of glycolipids with galactose oxidase and sodium boro[3H]hydride

Neutral glycosphingolipids immobilized on plastic surfaces were specifically radiolabeled with the galactose oxidase-sodium boro[3H]hydride method. Glycolipids could be immobilized in the absence of any other lipids such as phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol. Rather, the presence of these lipid components decreased the efficiency of radiolabeling. Glycolipids having more than four carbohydrate moieties with terminal galactosyl residues were effectively radiolabeled and could be easily recovered by elution from the plastic with ethanol in one step. This method will be suitable for analysis of small samples of "upper-phase" neutral glycolipids having terminal galactose or N-acetylgalactosamine.