This research addresses a major challenge in carbohydrate analysis: accurately identifying disaccharides that have the same chemical formula but different structures. Disaccharides are basic building blocks of larger carbohydrates and play important roles in nutrition, gut microbiota interactions, and biological signaling. Small structural differences—such as how two sugars are linked—can lead to very different biological effects, yet these differences are notoriously difficult to detect.
Traditional techniques, such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), require large amounts of pure material, while advanced mass spectrometry approaches often depend on extensive reference standards or specialized instruments. To overcome these limitations, the researchers developed a CMTSES-based LC–MS strategy. CMTSES stands for Composition-dependent MRM Transitions and Structure-indicative Elution Segments.
In simple terms, the method combines two ideas. First, composition-dependent MRM transitions use predictable fragmentation patterns in triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry to identify the sugar composition of disaccharides. Second, structure-indicative elution segments rely on how different disaccharide structures consistently separate during liquid chromatography. These retention patterns act like a time-based fingerprint, helping distinguish structural isomers even when their masses are identical.
A key innovation is the use of readily available reference sugars—such as mannose and galactose—to define elution windows, reducing the need for expensive or rare standards. Using this approach, the researchers successfully differentiated linkage, composition, and configuration isomers and validated the strategy in real samples containing mixed disaccharides.
The impact of this work is both practical and broad. It provides a cost-effective and accessible tool for studying carbohydrates in food science, biomedical research, and metabolomics. By improving confidence in disaccharide identification, the method supports deeper understanding of carbohydrate function and metabolism, especially in complex systems where structural detail matters but analytical resources are limited.
Reference
W. Miao, N. Li, J.-Q. Chen, and J.-L. Wu, “Composition-dependent MRM transitions and structure-indicative elution segments (CMTSES)-based LC-MS strategy for disaccharide profiling and isomer differentiation,” Analytica Chimica Acta, vol. 1337, article 343562, 2025, doi: 10.1016/j.aca.2024.343562.
