- Carbohydrate composition - Stereochemistry of sugar residues -
Polysaccharide linkage analysis GC is the method of choice for
glycosyl-residue identification (i.e., the sugar components that
make up polysaccharides and oligosaccharides). Two basic
derivitization techniques allow for the necessary volatilization
and ultimate separation of each glycosyl residue that is
released from the polymers by the initial acid hydrolysis. The
standard alditol acetate derivitization (or acetylation)
technique is highly reproducible and enables the identification
of neutral sugar components. A TMS-methyl glucoside techniques
expands the analysis to the acidic components, such as the
galacturonic acid residues that constitute common pectin. A
variation of this second technique is used to determine the d or
l configuration of each sugar component. In addition to
glycosyl-residue identification, the methylation of
polysaccharides prior to acid hydrolysis and acetylation
facilitates the identification of the glycosyl residue l