Detection and characterization of glycans and glycoconjugates using ion mobility-mass spectrometry

Abstract

Many of the diseases associated with glycoprotein variation can be more effectively treated with earlier detection substantiating the need for high-throughput methodologies for glycoconjugate characterization. This remains particularly difficult due to heterogeneity, branching, and large size of carbohydrate moieties which makes them less amenable to conventional proteomic methods. The specific aim of this research is to develop intelligent strategies for the characterization of glycans and glycoconjugates using rapid (us to ms) structural separations by ion mobility and subsequent identification by mass spectrometry in pursuit of simultaneous glycomic, lipidomic, and proteomic characterization from complex biological samples.