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Updated: Nov 2, 2025

Glycan Node Analysis: A Bottom-up Approach to Glycomics

Glycan Node Analysis: A Bottom-up Approach to Glycomics

Published on: May 22, 2016

A glimpse at the glycoRNA world.

Matthew D Disney¹

¹The Scripps Research Institute, Department of Chemistry, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA.

|June 11, 2021

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers discovered glycoRNAs, which are non-coding RNAs decorated with carbohydrates, on cell surfaces. This finding highlights a new layer of RNA functionalization, similar to proteins and lipids.

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Bioinformatics Resources for the Study of Glycan-Mediated Protein Interactions

Bioinformatics Resources for the Study of Glycan-Mediated Protein Interactions

Published on: January 20, 2022

Area of Science:

Molecular Biology
Glycobiology
RNA Biology

Background:

Recent decades show increased understanding of RNA modifications and their biological roles.
Conserved non-coding RNAs are known to participate in various cellular processes.

Purpose of the Study:

To report the discovery of glycoRNAs on the surface of cells.
To characterize the functionalization of non-coding RNAs with carbohydrates.

Main Methods:

Cell surface analysis techniques.
RNA isolation and characterization methods.
Glycan analysis and detection.

Main Results:

Identification of glycoRNAs present on the extracellular surface of cells.
Demonstration that conserved non-coding RNAs can be functionalized with carbohydrates.
Characterization of the glycan structures attached to these RNAs.

Conclusions:

GlycoRNAs represent a novel class of cell surface molecules.
Carbohydrate modification of RNA adds a new dimension to RNA biology and function.
This discovery opens new avenues for understanding cell-cell communication and RNA-mediated regulation.