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Updated: Aug 10, 2026

Glycan Node Analysis: A Bottom-up Approach to Glycomics
Published on: May 22, 2016
Glyco3D: a portal for structural glycosciences
Serge Pérez1, Anita Sarkar, Alain Rivet
1Centre de Recherches sur les Macromolécules Végétales, UPR5301, CNRS - Université Grenoble Alpes, BP53, 38041, Grenoble cédex 09, France.
Glyco3D provides free access to a comprehensive family of databases detailing the 3D structures of various carbohydrates and related proteins. This resource aids researchers by offering downloadable data and visualization tools for glycobiology studies.
Area of Science:
- Glycobiology
- Structural Biology
- Bioinformatics
Background:
- Understanding the three-dimensional (3D) structures of carbohydrates and their interacting proteins is crucial in glycobiology.
- Existing structural data is often fragmented across different resources, hindering comprehensive analysis.
- There is a need for integrated, accessible databases for carbohydrate-related 3D structures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a unified family of databases focused on the 3D structural features of carbohydrates and associated biomolecules.
- To provide open and free access to these databases for the global scientific community.
- To develop a user-friendly portal with visualization and data download capabilities.
Main Methods:
- Development of specialized databases covering monosaccharides, disaccharides, oligosaccharides, polysaccharides, glycosyltransferases, lectins, monoclonal antibodies against carbohydrates, and glycosaminoglycan-binding proteins.
- Utilizing non-proprietary software for database construction and accessibility.
- Implementation of a graphical user interface (GUI) for intuitive data searching and retrieval.
Main Results:
- The creation of the Glyco3D portal (http://www.glyco3d.cermav.cnrs.fr) integrating diverse carbohydrate-related structural information.
- All 3D structures are available for visual consultation, including basic measurement tools.
- Structures can be downloaded in standard formats for further research applications.
Conclusions:
- The Glyco3D databases offer a valuable, freely accessible resource for researchers in glycobiology and structural biology.
- The integrated platform simplifies the exploration and utilization of 3D structural data for carbohydrates and related proteins.
- The user-friendly interface and downloadable data promote wider research applications and discoveries in the field.
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