ABSTRACT
In the rapidly developing field of glycoanalysis, capillary electrophoresis (CE) has recently assumed a significant position alongside techniques such as high-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, mass spec trometry, and high performance liquid chromatography with pulsed amper ometric detection. This is primarily due to its high resolving power, which is needed to separate extremely complex glycoconjugate mixtures. Second, in combination with fluorescent derivatization, capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection gives considerable promise that ultra-sensitive determinations in glycobiology will become readily available. Third, with the new developments in combining capillary electrophoresis with nanoelectrospray and laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry, structural elucidation capabilities should be enhanced in the near future. The advances in detection methodologies, in turn, necessitate the develop ment of better CE separations. For glycoconjugates the resolution and selectivity can be maximized through a better understanding of electromi gration phenomena.
