Rapid monitoring of site-specific glycosylation microheterogeneity of recombinant human interferon-gamma

An analytical system is presented for rapid assessment of site-specific microheterogeneity of the two potential N-linked glycosylation sites of recombinant human interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) derived from Chinese hamster ovary cell culture. The target protein is first purified from culture supernatant by immunoaffinity chromatography, and the acidic eluent is neutralized via an in-line mixing tee. Online proteolysis is rapidly performed by an immobilized trypsin cartridge, and reversed-phase chromatography isolates the two pools of glycopeptides representing the potential glycosylation sites, Following off-line analysis by matrix-assisted laser-desorption ionization/time-of-flight (MALDI/TOF) mass spectrometry, observed mass shifts of glycopeptides relative to the known masses of their amino acid portions are correlated to site-specific oligosaccharide structures. Desialylation of glycopeptides by sialidase treatment on the MALDI sample plate allows for quantitative estimations of asialoglycan structures by MALDI/TOF. This methodology permits glycoprotein microheterogeneity to be evaluated in a time frame of similar to 2 h, utilizing as little as 0.5 mu g (25 pmol) of product. Results of monitoring a batch culture are presented as well as analysis of a culture containing deoxymannojirimycin, an inhibitor of glycoprotein processing.