Prestaining of glycoproteins in SDS-PAGE via 4H-[1]-Benzopyrano[4,3-b]thiophene-2-carboxylic acid hydrazide with weak influence on protein mobility.

A new fluorescent prestaining method for gel-separated glycoproteins in 1D and 2D SDS-PAGE was developed by using 4H-[1]-Benzopyrano[4,3-b]thiophene-2-carboxylic acid hydrazide (BH). The prestained gels were readily imaged after electrophoresis without any time-consuming steps needed for poststain. As low as 4-8 ng glycoproteins (transferrin, α1-acid glycoprotein) could be selectively detected, which is comparable to the most commonly used Pro-Q Emerald 488 glycoprotein stain. In addition, subsequent study of deglycosylation, glycoprotein affinity chromatography, and LC-MS/MS analysis were performed to confirm the specificity of the newly developed method. As a result, BH prestain provides a new choice for quick, sensitive, specific, economical, and MS compatible visualization of gel-separated glycoproteins.