Carbohydrate affinity PAGE for the study of carbohydrate-binding proteins

Immobilized neoglycoconjugates covalently cross-linked into a polyacrylamide gel can be used to detect and characterize carbohydrate-binding proteins. The neoglycoconjugates comprise two active groups, saccharide and allyl, located on a poly(2-hydroxyethylacrylamide) backbone. The allyl group cross-links with the polyacrylamide gel matrix, while the saccharide groups are available for specific protein interactions. This neoglycoconjugate gel is prepared as a thin layer within the stacking region of a polyacrylamide gel, and electrophoresis is performed according to native, non-denaturing conditions. Carbohydrate-binding proteins, specific for the immobilized neoglycoconjugates, are thus retarded during electrophoresis, while simultaneously permitting the separation of nonbinding proteins according to size and charge. This new approach can be used to study carbohydrate-binding proteins in the pathology of disease or infection.