There are are two related methods for the separation of reducing saccharides by PAGE. One of these has been cited above ( Jackson ,P.,  Biochemical Journal vol. 270, 1990) which uses the fluorophore ANTS. The other is  described in : Jackson, P., Analytical Biochem. Vol. 196, 1991:  this uses the fluorophore AMAC. . The method has been described/ reviewed : Jackson, P., Anal. Biochem.vol.216, 1994,. & Molecular Biotechnology vol. 5 1996 and in other reviews and various published patents.. The method has also been applied to plant saccharides in a slightly modified form when it has been called PACE (gels) (Goubet,F. et al. Anal. Biochem. Vol.300, 2002 and DASH (CE) ( Li, X., et al. Biotechnology for Biofuels Vol.6, 2013. 

The PAGE based methods use  PAGE buffer systems similar to those for the separation of proteins but SDS is omitted. Detection of the saccharides in the gels is enabled by coupling the reducing saccharides to a suitable fuorophore prior to electrophoresis. The fluorophore ANTS is charged and enables both the electrophoretic separation and the detection of saccharides that are either charged or uncharged.  The AMAC flurophore is uncharged and requires a buffer system containing  borate ions to enable the separation of uncharged saccharides; non borate buffers can be used for charged saccharides labelled with AMAC. 

 The labelleing reaction is straight forward and requires no specialised lab equipment. The gels require higher concentrations of acrylamide than those used for proteins but are otherwise similar.

there is a specialized technique to analyze glycans (starting from disaccharides to some 20 mers) in PAGE. this is called fluorophore assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis (or FACE) and is based on the reaction of a charged fluorophore (AMAC (2-aminoacridone)  with the reducing end of a glycan.  it is quite demanding but you may check it out.

Dr. Stolz is quite correct; FACE is the only gel electrophoresis method I can think of for saccharides.  See attached paper. Oligosaccharides can also be separated by capillary zone electrophoresis, which is a different technique requiring specialized equipment.

I agree with previous answers. The seprataion can also be achieved with HPLC using a suitable column depending on the properties of your specific carbohydrates. Could be based on boronate, SEC or hydrophobic interactions..

Another elegant solution is to use lectins.

For charged carbohydrates such as capsular polysaccharides polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis works nicely, http://jb.asm.org/content/170/6/2646.full.pdf.

Neutral carbohydrates can be run in polyacrylamide gel electrophorus using borate buffer. Borate binds to carbohydrate and gives them a negative charge (Weitzman S, Scott V, Keegstra K. Anal Biochem. 1979;97:438-49)

Jukka: I did not know about these interesting separation methods. Thanks. 

There are are two related methods for the separation of reducing saccharides by PAGE. One of these has been cited above ( Jackson ,P.,  Biochemical Journal vol. 270, 1990) which uses the fluorophore ANTS. The other is  described in : Jackson, P., Analytical Biochem. Vol. 196, 1991:  this uses the fluorophore AMAC. . The method has been described/ reviewed : Jackson, P., Anal. Biochem.vol.216, 1994,. & Molecular Biotechnology vol. 5 1996 and in other reviews and various published patents.. The method has also been applied to plant saccharides in a slightly modified form when it has been called PACE (gels) (Goubet,F. et al. Anal. Biochem. Vol.300, 2002 and DASH (CE) ( Li, X., et al. Biotechnology for Biofuels Vol.6, 2013. 

The PAGE based methods use  PAGE buffer systems similar to those for the separation of proteins but SDS is omitted. Detection of the saccharides in the gels is enabled by coupling the reducing saccharides to a suitable fuorophore prior to electrophoresis. The fluorophore ANTS is charged and enables both the electrophoretic separation and the detection of saccharides that are either charged or uncharged.  The AMAC flurophore is uncharged and requires a buffer system containing  borate ions to enable the separation of uncharged saccharides; non borate buffers can be used for charged saccharides labelled with AMAC. 

 The labelleing reaction is straight forward and requires no specialised lab equipment. The gels require higher concentrations of acrylamide than those used for proteins but are otherwise similar.

Dear Dr. Jackson,

great to have the Inventor and leading expert on the FACE method participate in this discussion and to comment on my incomplete recollection that dates from some experiments performed years ago (Stolz and Munro, JBC 277, 44801–44808, 2002). What I meant with „demanding“ is  that the method (at least the way we performed it) required a high-output power supply and consequently also cooling of the gel during the run.  This type of electrophoresis equipment may not be available in a lab in India that does SDS PAGE of proteins only.

Best wishes

J Stolz

I would like to recommend the HPLC-Soap-SEC method (with 30 nm pore diameter), if carbohydrates has double bonds (detection at 210 nm is possible).   HPLC-Soap-SEC method using RID (refractive index detection; please see file, multiple hydrolase LIP) may also be possible.   To differentiate glycoprotein peak and carbohydrate peak, please use UV 210 and UV 280 nm. 

Please see files.   Both glycoproteins and carbohydrates (such as fucoidan) are simultaneously possible to be separated.  

Furthermore, PAGE (polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) is not applicable both hydrophobic glycoproteins and carbohydrates (please see file; IEF for hydrophobic protein).

Dear Dr. Jackson,

I'm very grateful to hear from you. Thank you for sharing your insightful ideas.

Thanks to all for sharing your valuable knowledge.