Glycan Analysis Mass Spectrometry

Glycan analysis mass spectrometry is a highly sensitive analytical technique used to decipher the structure and changes of carbohydrate molecules. Carbohydrate molecules are widely present in organisms and participate in many biological processes, such as cell signal transduction, immune response, protein folding, and cell interactions. Unlike proteins and nucleic acids, carbohydrates have more complex and variable structures with high heterogeneity. Traditional carbohydrate analysis methods often face difficulties in resolving complex glycan structures, but mass spectrometry, with its high resolution and sensitivity, has become a core tool for understanding carbohydrate molecular structures, quantitatively analyzing glycan chains, and their modifications. Through glycan analysis mass spectrometry, researchers can quickly obtain detailed information about carbohydrate molecules, including glycan composition, branching structures, glycosidic bond types, and glycan modifications. Glycan analysis mass spectrometry has important applications in various fields. In proteomics research, glycosylation is one form of post-translational modification of proteins, profoundly affecting protein structure, function, and stability. Abnormal glycosylation is closely related to many diseases, especially in cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and others. Through glycan analysis mass spectrometry, researchers can accurately analyze the types, locations, and modification patterns of protein glycosylation, providing clues for disease mechanism research and biomarker discovery. In clinical research, glycan analysis mass spectrometry also exhibits great potential in biomarker discovery.

 

The core principle of glycan analysis mass spectrometry is the precise measurement of the mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) of carbohydrate molecules using a mass spectrometer, followed by structural analysis of the glycan chain through the obtained mass spectrum. Carbohydrate molecules are often composed of multiple monosaccharide residues connected by glycosidic bonds, and mass spectrometry reveals the components and sequence of the glycan chain by breaking these glycosidic bonds and generating a series of fragment ions. Glycan analysis mass spectrometry includes several common technical approaches such as positive ion mode and negative ion mode mass spectrometry analysis, selection of ion sources, optimization of fragmentation methods, etc., to address the complex structures of different carbohydrate molecules. Additionally, mass spectrometry can be combined with liquid chromatography (LC-MS) or gas chromatography (GC-MS) to further improve the precision and sensitivity of separation and quantitative analysis.

 

Despite the role of glycan analysis mass spectrometry in carbohydrate research, the complexity and heterogeneity of carbohydrate molecular structures still present certain challenges in the analytical process. For example, the branching structures of glycan chains, mixtures of polysaccharides and low molecular weight sugars may lead to difficulties in data analysis. To overcome these issues, researchers continuously optimize mass spectrometry techniques, enhance data analysis algorithms, and further improve the sensitivity and resolution of carbohydrate analysis.

 

Biotyper Biotechnology has rich experience and advanced technical platforms, enabling us to provide precise carbohydrate analysis services to clients. By integrating the latest mass spectrometry technologies and data analysis tools, we can effectively analyze various complex glycan structures, providing comprehensive technical support for glycosylation research, biomarker discovery, drug development, and clinical applications.

 

Biotyper Biotechnology—Characterization of Biologics, High-Quality Multi-Omics Mass Spectrometry Detection Service Provider

 

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