Figure 1.

MS spectra of permethylated N-linked glycans in the serum of patients with CCA compared with healthy controls, as detected using NSI-MS. Glycans released from the serum of patients with CCA and healthy controls were permethylated and analyzed. MS spectra present the predominance of the complex type and high-mannose type oligosaccharides in (A) healthy sera vs. (B) CCA sera. The glycan profiles (A vs. B) demonstrate similar glycan patterns, but they differ in their relative quantities. Glycans were detected as doubly [2+] and triply charged species [3+]. The graphical representation of monosaccharide residues are defined in the figure and are consistent with the suggested nomenclature of the Consortium for Functional Glycomics (http://glycomics.scripps.edu/CFGnomenclature.pdf). MS, mass spectrometry; CCA, cholangiocarcinoma; NSI-MS, nanospray ionization-linear ion trap mass spectrometry; m/z, mass/charge ratio; Glc, N-acetylglucosamine.