Analysis of recombinant human erythropoietin glycopeptides by capillary electrophoresis electrospray–time of flight-mass spectrometry

Capillary electrophoresis electrospray–mass spectrometry was used to detect and characterize the great variety of O- and N-glycopeptide glycoforms of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) using an orthogonal accelerating time-of-flight mass spectrometer to obtain their exact molecular masses (CE–TOF-MS). rhEPO was digested with trypsin and Glu-C and analyzed by CE–TOF-MS to detect O126, N83, N24–N38 and N24 and N38 glycopeptide glycoforms, respectively. Neuraminidase was first used to enhance the detection of the glycopeptides and detect all possible glycoforms contained in each glycosylation site. O126 and N83 glycopeptides were extensively characterized. Twelve sialoforms corresponding to 5 different glycoforms were detected in N83, and for the first time, a sulfated sialoform of this glycopeptide was also detected. In the case of O126, different sialoforms with different types of sialic acids (Neu5Gc and Neu5Ac) were detected and an estimation of the relative percentage of Neu5Gc versus Neu5Ac was also carried out for this glycopeptide. N24 and N38 glycosylation sites were also characterized by CE–TOF-MS after Glu-C digestion and these results permitted to rule out some glycan combinations for N24–N38 glycopeptide glycoforms. This study provided a reliable glycopeptide map of rhEPO and may be regarded as an excellent starting point to analyze rhEPO glycopeptides in biological fluids and detect the use of this hormone in sports.

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► CE–TOF-MS methodology for the analysis of rhEPO and hEPO glycopeptides in biological fluids.
► Obtaining a reliable glycopeptide map of rhEPO.
► Starting point to detect the use of this hormone in sports.
► Detection of 2 sialoforms not previously described in the glycopeptide literature.