Advances in mass spectrometry-based glycomics: progress, applications, and perspectives

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• Glycoscience
• Biomedical Research

Background:

• Glycosylation is a common post-translational modification vital for biological processes, including tumor-immune interactions.
• Abnormal glycosylation patterns are linked to the development and progression of various human diseases.
• Mass spectrometry-based glycomics offers powerful tools for studying these modifications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of the mass spectrometry-based glycomics workflow.
• To discuss the applicability and limitations of different glycomics techniques.
• To facilitate biomarker discovery and deepen the understanding of glycomics in biomedical studies.

Main Methods:

• Glycan release, separation, and purification techniques.
• Glycan derivatization and labeling strategies.
• Mass spectrometry analysis and quantification methods.

Main Results:

• Detailed summary of the end-to-end mass spectrometry-based glycomics workflow.
• Discussion on the strengths and weaknesses of various analytical approaches.
• Identification of key steps for robust glycomics data generation.

Conclusions:

• Mass spectrometry-based glycomics is essential for elucidating disease mechanisms and identifying biomarkers.
• A systematic understanding of the glycomics workflow is crucial for successful application.
• This review serves as a reference to advance glycomics research in biomedicine.