Gas-liquid chromatographic analysis of the monosaccharide composition of acid glycosaminoglycans (mucopolysaccharides) derived from animal tissues.

Quantitative, gas-liquid chromatography was investigated for analysis of the monosaccharide composition of acid mucopolysaccharides from animal tissues. The method entailed the analysis of the trimethylsillyl (Me3Si) derivatives of methyl glycosides on two liquid phases. Good resolution of monosaccharides was achieved by use of columns of SE-30 and Apiezon-M. The procedure was tested with chondroitin 4-sulfate, and the results were slightly different from those of Mathews et al. When the analysis is performed according to this method, important points are: (1) absolutely anhydrous, methanolic hydrogen chloride is necessary, to ensure detection of hexosamines and sialic acid; and (2) high moisture in the air obstructs high recovery of methyl glycosides and their Me3Si derivatives, except in the case of neutral sugars.