of the glycoconjugate samples in their original buffer were spotted
onto a ground-steel MALDI target plate with 1 μL of either a
10 mg/mL “super-DHB” (a 9:1 (w/w) mixture of 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic
acid and 2-hydroxy-5-methoxybenzoic acid; purchased from Sigma-Aldrich,
Germany) solution in 50:50 (v/v) ACN/water and NaOH 1 mM or a 100
mg/mL super-DHB solution in 50:50 (v/v) ACN/water. The spots were
left to dry at room temperature. For the analysis of the protein backbone,
the glycoconjugate samples were desalted by C18-ZipTip SPE as described
above, by direct elution onto a polished-steel MALDI target plate
and the addition of 1 μL of a saturated solution of 1,5-diaminonaphtalene
(1,5-DAN) in water/ACN/formic acid (v/v, 50:49.95:0.05). The spots
were left to dry at room temperature.