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Printed Glycan Array: A Sensitive Technique for the Analysis of the Repertoire of Circulating Anti-carbohydrate Antibodies in Small Animals
Published on: February 14, 2019
Profiling of serum antibodies with printed glycan array: room for data misinterpretation
Polina Obukhova1, Vladimir Piskarev, Vyacheslav Severov
1Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia.
Glycoconjugate Journal
|November 8, 2011
Summary
Polyclonal antibodies may be misinterpreted on printed glycan arrays (PGAs). Studies show antibodies bind the core Galβ1-3GlcNAc structure, not just specific glycan variations like Le(C).
Area of Science:
- Glycomics
- Immunology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Polyclonal antibodies are crucial in diagnostics and therapeutics.
- Printed glycan arrays (PGAs) are widely used to profile antibody specificities.
- Glycan structures like Galβ1-3GlcNAc (Le(C)) and its derivatives are important biomarkers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate potential misinterpretations of antibody specificity using PGAs.
- To analyze the binding characteristics of antibodies against Le(C) related glycans.
Main Methods:
- Affinity isolation of antibodies from human serum using Le(C)-Sepharose and 3'-O-SuLe(C)-Sepharose.
- Detailed glycan-binding profiling of isolated antibodies.
- Analysis of antibody binding to various Le(C) related glycan structures.
Main Results:
- Antibodies isolated using either Le(C)-Sepharose or 3'-O-SuLe(C)-Sepharose were identical.
- Isolated antibodies demonstrated equal binding to Le(C) and 3'-O-SuLe(C) disaccharides, and 3'-O-SiaLe(C) trisaccharide.
- Detailed analysis revealed antibodies bind to the inner Galβ1-3GlcNAc disaccharide core.
Conclusions:
- Human serum contains a single antibody subset binding the Galβ1-3GlcNAc core, not distinct subsets for Le(C) or 3'-O-SuLe(C).
- Printed glycan arrays (PGAs) can lead to misinterpretation of polyclonal antibody specificities.
- Careful analysis is needed to understand true antibody binding epitopes on complex glycan structures.

