Unravelling the structural complexity of glycolipids with cryogenic infrared spectroscopy
Open Access
- 22 February 2021
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Nature in Nature Communications
- Vol. 12 (1), 1-7
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-21480-1
Abstract
Glycolipids are complex glycoconjugates composed of a glycan headgroup and a lipid moiety. Their modular biosynthesis creates a vast amount of diverse and often isomeric structures, which fulfill highly specific biological functions. To date, no gold-standard analytical technique can provide a comprehensive structural elucidation of complex glycolipids, and insufficient tools for isomer distinction can lead to wrong assignments. Herein we use cryogenic gas-phase infrared spectroscopy to systematically investigate different kinds of isomerism in immunologically relevant glycolipids. We show that all structural features, including isomeric glycan headgroups, anomeric configurations and different lipid moieties, can be unambiguously resolved by diagnostic spectroscopic fingerprints in a narrow spectral range. The results allow for the characterization of isomeric glycolipid mixtures and biological applications.Keywords
Funding Information
- Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes
- Verband der Chemischen Industrie
- Fonds National de la Recherche Luxembourg (13549747)
- U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (RO1AI123130, RO1AI123130)
- United States Department of Defense | United States Army | U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command | Army Research Office (W911NF2010271)
- U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
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