Engaging challenges in glycoproteomics: recent advances in MS-based glycopeptide analysis

The proteomic analysis of glycosylation is uniquely challenging. The numerous and varied biological roles of protein-linked glycans have fueled a tremendous demand for technologies that enable rapid, in-depth structural examination of glycosylated proteins in complex biological systems. In turn, this demand has driven many innovations in wide ranging fields of bioanalytical science. This review will summarize key developments in glycoprotein separation and enrichment, glycoprotein proteolysis strategies, glycopeptide separation and enrichment, the role of mass measurement accuracy in glycopeptide detection, glycopeptide ion dissociation methods for MS/MS, and informatic tools for glycoproteomic analysis. In aggregate, this selection of topics serves to encapsulate the present status of MS-based analytical technologies for engaging the challenges of glycoproteomic analysis.