Characterization of N-linked Glycosylation Sites and Glycans of Glycodelins by Means of Tandem Mass Spectrometry

摘要

Glycodelin is a glycoprotein with isoforms present in the pathway that the spermatozoa must pass through before fertilization in vivo. There are 3 reported glycodelin isoforms; namely glycodelin-A (amniotic fluid isoform), -S (seminal plasma) and F (follicular fluid). They have different functions on spermatozoa. The N-glycans of both glycodelin-A and -S have been determined by Dell et al using mass spectrometry (MS). Glycodelin-F was first discovered in our laboratory but its glycan structure remains unclear.