The synthesis and evaluation of novel sialic acid analogues bound to matrices for the purification of sialic acid-recognising proteins

A novel N-acetylneuraminic acid analogue, 2-S-(5′-aminopentyl) 5-acetamido-3,5-dideoxy-2-thio-d-glycero-α-d-galacto-2-nonulopyranosidonic acid, as well as the thiosialoside 2-S-(2′-aminoethyl) 5-acetamido-3,5-dideoxy-2-thio-d-glycero-α-d-galacto-2-nonulopyranosidonic acid, have been synthesised and successfully coupled to CNBr-activated Sepharose 4B through the terminal amino group. The resultant affinity resins have proved efficient in purifying a number of sialic acid-recognising proteins such as Vibrio cholerae sialidase, sialidase-L from leech, trans-sialidase from Trypanosoma cruzi, and sialyltransferases from rat liver, all in high yield.