Analysis of protein glycation using fluorescent phenylboronate gel SUBJECT AREAS: DIAGNOSTIC MARKERS electrophoresis ELECTROPHORESIS Marta P. Pereira Morais1, Dominic Marshall1, Stephen E. Flower2, Christopher J. Caunt1, Tony D. James2, GLYCOCONJUGATES Robert J. Williams1, Nicholas R. Waterfield1 & Jean M. H. van den Elsen1 PROTEOMIC ANALYSIS 1Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, U.K, 2Department of Chemistry, University of Bath, Received Bath, BA2 7AY, U.K. 6 November 2012 Accepted Glycated proteins are important biomarkers for age-related disorders, however their analysis is challenging 4 February 2013 because of the complexity of the protein-carbohydrate adducts. Here we report a method that enables the Published detection and identification of individual glycated proteins in complex samples using fluorescent boronic acids in gel electrophoresis. Using this method we identified glycated proteins in human serum, insect 27 March 2013 hemolymph and mouse brain homogenates, confirming this technique as a powerful proteomics tool that can be used for the identification of potential disease biomarkers. Correspondence and 1,2 requests for materials rotein glycation, also known as non-enzymatic glycosylation, has been implicated in various disease states and is therefore an important biomarker for ageing and age-related chronic diseases such as diabetes, should be addressed to cardiovascular diseases, autoimmune diseases, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease (AD)3–11. This process J.M.H.v.d.E. P whereby reducing sugar molecules such as glucose react with the amino groups of lysine, arginine or N-terminal (
[email protected]) amino acid residues of proteins ultimately leads to the formation of complex and stable advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs).