Background of supported molecular matrix electrophoresis (SMME) and recent achievements in mucin analysis using SMME

Abstract

The challenges we faced in the development of glycoproteomics methodology led us to develop supported molecular matrix electrophoresis (SMME), a method for separational analysis for mucins that cannot be analyzed by conventional two-dimensional electrophoresis. In this report, I describe our recent results using SMME, including a new O-glycan release method, eliminative oximation, and glycan analysis of mucins separated by SMME using lectin staining. In the eliminative oximation, the released glycans are immediately converted to oximes. Mucins separated by SMME can also be stained with lectins. This method revealed that MUC1 secreted from mucoepidermoid carcinoma contains core-2 O-glycans including NeuAc α2-3Gal structure. The method of mucin analysis using SMME is mature and is expected to be applied to future medical research.