Rapid synthesis and analysis of carbohydrates

A method of synthesizing a carbohydrate, said method comprising the steps:

• adding a carbohydrate substrate to a first reaction matrix gel comprising a first carbohydrate-modifying enzyme specific for said carbohydrate substrate,
• incubating said gel under conditions permitting the interaction of said carbohydrate-modifying enzyme with said carbohydrate substrate so as to form a first reaction product, and
• removing said first reaction product from said matrix by fluorophore assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis.

An apparatus for synthesizing a carbohydrate, said apparatus comprising in functional combination:

• a first reaction matrix gel comprising a first carbohydrate-modifying enzyme capable of catalyzing a reaction with a carbohydrate substrate, whereby a first reaction product is produced,
• a means for introducing a carbohydrate substrate for said first carbohydrate-modifying enzyme into said gel, and
• a means for generating a voltage drop over said gel, wherein said voltage drop can separate the reaction product from said gel.

A method of measuring the presence of a carbohydrate in a test sample, said method comprising the steps:

• adding a test sample suspected of containing a carbohydrate of interest to a reaction matrix gel comprising a carbohydrate-modifying enzyme, wherein said carbohydrate of interest is a substrate for said first carbohydrate-modifying enzyme,
• incubating said gel under conditions permitting catalyzation of a reaction by said carbohydrate-modifying enzyme on said carbohydrate of interest so as to form a reaction product, and
• removing said reaction product from said gel by fluorophore assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis.

A cartridge comprising in functional combination,

• a reaction matrix gel,
• a carbohydrate-modifying enzyme, wherein said enzyme is immobilized in said gel, and
• a gel housing containing said gel.

A method of detecting a carbohydrate-modifying enzyme present in a sample for analysis, said method comprising the steps,

• contacting said sample for analysis with a fluorophore-labelled assay carbohydrate substrate, and
• detecting a structural modification of said assay substrate catalyzed by said enzyme.

A kit for detecting a carbohydrate of interest in a sample for analysis, said kit comprising:

• a reaction matrix gel, wherein said gel comprises an immobilized carbohydrate modifying enzyme having carbohydrate modifying activity for said carbohydrate of interest, and
• a fluorophore label suitable for use in fluorophore-assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis.

A kit for detecting a carbohydrate-modifying enzyme present in a sample for analysis, said kit comprising:

• a carbohydrate substrate, and
• a fluorophore label for use in fluorophore assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis.