Glycan Modification Analysis Service

Glycan modification is a crucial step in the glycosylation process that can alter the spatial conformation, stability, and interaction of glycans with receptors or other molecules. Glycan modification analysis is primarily used to study various modifications of glycans, such as acetylation, phosphorylation, and sulfation, which play important roles in the functionality and biological effects of glycans. Advanced technological platforms can be employed to perform both qualitative and quantitative analysis of glycan modifications, revealing the types, locations, and distribution of modifications in different biological samples.

 

Glycan modification analysis service has broad applications across multiple fields. In glycomics research, analyzing glycan modifications helps in understanding the role of glycosylation in cellular recognition, signal transduction, and other processes. In drug development, research on glycan modifications provides insights for the development of targeted drugs. In biopharmaceutical quality control, ensuring the consistency and stability of glycan modifications is crucial for optimizing product quality. Additionally, this service is widely applied in environmental and agricultural research, exploring the role of glycan modifications in plant stress resistance and other aspects.

 



Paschinger, K. et al. Glycoconjugate Journal, 2019.

Figure 1. Example Glucuronylated, Sialylated and Sulphated Glycans.

 

Services at MtoZ Biolabs

Based on advanced technology and analytical platforms, MtoZ Biolabs' glycan modification analysis service offers qualitative and quantitative analysis of various glycan modification types, analyzing the modification sites, extent of modification, and their distribution within the sample. Through these analyses, researchers can obtain detailed data on glycan modifications, including types of modifications, distribution, and interactions with other molecules, which helps in understanding the impact of glycosylation modifications on cellular function and biological processes. We offer analysis of modifications, including but not limited to the following:

 

1. Acetylation Modification Analysis

Acetylation involves adding an acetyl group (–COCH₃) to the glycan chain, altering its structure and function, and affecting the glycan's binding ability to receptors. It plays a crucial role in cellular recognition and signal transduction.

 

2. Phosphorylation Modification Analysis

Phosphorylation modifies the glycan structure by adding a phosphate group (–PO₄), and it is involved in signal transduction and metabolic regulation. MtoZ Biolabs offers precise analysis of phosphorylated glycans.

 

3. Sulfation Modification Analysis

Sulfation involves the addition of a sulfate group (–SO₃), changing the glycan’s charge and structure. This modification influences the glycan’s binding with receptors and participates in essential biological processes such as immune regulation.

 

4. Methylation Modification Analysis

Methylation modifies glycans by adding a methyl group (–CH₃), which impacts the glycan's stability and hydrophilicity, influencing cellular signaling and gene expression.

 

5. Amination Modification Analysis

Amination involves the reaction of amino groups on the glycan with other groups, affecting its function and playing a key role in molecular interactions and signal transduction.

 

Analysis Workflow

1. Sample Preparation

Pre-treat the sample to remove impurities, ensuring the integrity of the glycan modification components, providing a reliable foundation for subsequent analysis.

 

2. Glycan Extraction and Enrichment

Release glycan chains from the sample using enzymatic or chemical methods, and use specific enrichment techniques to extract target glycans, ensuring the purity and accuracy of the analysis.

 

3. Chromatography Separation and Capillary Electrophoresis Separation

Use high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or capillary electrophoresis (CE) for fine separation of glycans, further enhancing separation efficiency and improving the accuracy of subsequent detection.

 

4. Mass Spectrometry Analysis

Combine high-resolution mass spectrometry (MS) technology to accurately identify and quantify separated glycans, analyzing modification types, modification sites, and distribution.

 

5. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Analysis

Use nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technology to further analyze the spatial conformation and modification features of glycans, helping to confirm the 3D structure and cross-linking.

 

6. Fluorescent Labeling Analysis

If enhanced sensitivity is required, use fluorescent labeling techniques, particularly useful for detecting and quantifying low-abundance glycans.

 

7. Data Processing and Report Generation

Interpret the analysis results using bioinformatics tools and generate a detailed report, providing quantitative data, structural features, and distribution information of glycan modifications in the samples.

 

Sample Submission Suggestions

1. Sample Type

This service is suitable for various biological samples containing glycan chains, including glycoproteins, cell lysates, tissue extracts, serum, plasma, etc. Samples can be in either liquid or solid form, and the integrity of the glycan components must be ensured.

 

2. Sample Purity

To ensure the accuracy of the analysis, it is recommended to remove impurities from the sample as much as possible to reduce interference with glycan modifications. For complex samples, an initial impurity removal process is suggested.

 

3. Sample Storage and Transport

Samples should be transported under low-temperature conditions. Liquid samples can be transported using ice packs or dry ice, while solid samples should be sealed and kept dry. To ensure the quality of the samples, it is recommended to maintain frozen or chilled conditions during transport.

 

Service Advantages

1. High-Precision Analysis

Using advanced chromatography, mass spectrometry, and NMR techniques, this service enables precise analysis of glycan modification types, modification sites, and modification levels, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the results.

 

2. High Sensitivity

With optimized analytical methods, this service is capable of detecting low-abundance glycan modifications, particularly suitable for complex biological samples, providing sensitive and accurate quantitative data.

 

3. Customizable Analysis Plans

Based on the client's research objectives and sample characteristics, personalized analysis plans are offered to flexibly address various research needs, ensuring precision in the results.

 

4. One-Stop Service

This service offers a comprehensive process from sample preparation, glycan extraction, modification analysis to data interpretation, simplifying the experimental workflow and improving research efficiency.

 

Applications

1. Glycan Modification Functional Research

Glycan modification analysis service can be used to study the role of glycan modifications in biological processes such as cell recognition, signal transduction, and immune regulation, revealing the diversity of glycans in life activities.

 

2. Biopharmaceutical Consistency and Stability Testing

This service can be applied during the development of biopharmaceuticals to analyze changes in glycan modifications, ensuring the consistency and stability of glycan modifications, and enhancing quality control and research efficiency in biopharmaceutical development.

 

3. Food and Health Product R&D

Glycan modification analysis service can evaluate the characteristics of glycan modifications in food and health products, helping to optimize formulations and improve the functionality, taste, and storage stability of the products.

 

4. Environmental and Microbial Research

By analyzing glycan modifications in environmental or microbial samples, this service explores the functional roles of glycosylation in environmental adaptation, microbial interactions, and contributes to ecological and environmental protection research.

 

FAQ

Q1: Will the Glycan Modification Analysis Process Damage the Glycan Structure?

A1: No. The analytical methods we use, including enzymatic digestion and chemical derivatization, are gentle and do not damage the basic structure of the glycan. The process is focused on maintaining the integrity of the glycan to ensure accurate reflection of the modification types and structural information.

 

Q2: What Is the Sensitivity of the Glycan Modification Analysis?

A2: This service has high sensitivity, making it especially suitable for analyzing low-abundance glycan modifications. With optimized sample preparation, derivatization, and separation techniques, low-abundance glycan modifications in even complex biological samples can be effectively detected and quantified.

 

Q3: Is This Service Suitable for Large-Scale,High-Throughput Analysis?

A3: Yes, our glycan modification analysis service supports high-throughput analysis. With optimized workflows and automated systems, we can efficiently obtain accurate glycan modification data from large-scale samples, meeting the needs of large-scale research.