Glycoprofiling of Erythropoietin using High Resolution Capillary Electrophoresis-Mass Spectrometry

Erythropoietin is a protein with attached sugars that stimulates the production of red blood cells. As such, it can be used by athletes to enhance their competitive performance, an act that is called doping. Erythropoietin that us used for doping is typically produced in animal cells, which functionalize the protein with sugars that differ from those produced in human cells. Jessica Risley’s project is to develop a method of analysis using capillary electrophoresis coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry to detect this difference in sugars quantitatively and use the information to later test samples to determine whether or not doping has occurred.

Faculty Supervisor:

David Chen

Student:

Jessica Risley

Partner:

Discipline:

Chemistry

Sector:

University:

University of British Columbia

Program:

Globalink Research Award