Glycosylation analysis is one of the most challenging post-translational modification analyses. Glycosylation modifications are usually in the form of groups rather than single modifications. Even a single glycosylation site on a protein may have various glycan isomers with different chain lengths and branching. O-glycosylation (O-Glycan, also known as O-glycan, O-glycans) mainly involves glycosidic bonds between terminal monosaccharide residues and the OH groups of serine or threonine in polypeptides. The consensus sequence of amino acids linked by O-glycans is not yet clear, and the structure of O-glycans is diverse, which can be divided into several structural families with relatively heterogeneous core structures.
Different core structures of O-linked glycans
Unlike N-glycans, there is currently no universal enzyme capable of digesting most O-glycans. O-glycanase can only cleave glycans initiated by unsubstituted O-GalNAc disaccharides. Therefore, chemical hydrolysis of O-glycans is a more universal method, and most O-glycans can be released from O-glycopeptides by β-elimination.
General workflow for sample preparation in glycan analysis
O-glycans can be analyzed using MALDI-TOF MS, where derivatized and methylated O-glycans are analyzed by converting all hydroxyl groups to methyl ethers and stabilizing sialic acids on carboxyl groups by methylation, allowing MALDI-TOF MS to analyze O-glycans in positive ion mode. By mass spectrometry analysis of methylated O-glycans, information about the glycan composition can be obtained.
Schematic of mass spectrometry-based O-glycan analysis
Biotech-Peak has many years of experience in the field of glycomics analysis and can tailor glycomics analysis services according to your specific needs. Feel free to contact us!
Chinese/English project report
In the technical report, Biotech-Peak will provide you with a detailed bilingual Chinese and English technical report, which includes:
1. Experimental steps (Chinese and English)
2. Relevant mass spectrometry parameters (Chinese and English)
3. Mass spectrometry images
4. Raw data
5. O-glycan analysis results
One-stop O-glycan analysis service
You only need to place an order and send the samples
Biotech-Peak's one-stop service completes: Sample processing - Machine analysis - Data analysis - Project report
