Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 4, 2026
08:52
Spatial Molecular Imaging of the Glycome Using Mass Spectrometry
Published on: November 28, 2025
532
From Laser Microdissection to Spatial Glycomics: Lectin Microarray Protocols for Tissue Glycome Mapping with High-End
Patcharaporn Boottanun1,2, Sayaka Fuseya1, Atsushi Kuno1
1Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|February 2, 2026
Summary
Laser microdissection combined with lectin microarray (LMD-LMA) precisely profiles spatial glycosylation in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues. This method enables detailed tissue glycome mapping for enhanced biological interpretation in spatial omics.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Histology
Background:
- Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues are widely available and preserve tissue architecture.
- Spatial glycomics requires precise isolation of microscale tissue regions.
- Laser microdissection (LMD) and lectin microarray (LMA) are key technologies for glycomic profiling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present detailed protocols for integrating LMD with LMA (LMD-LMA) for spatial glycomic profiling.
- To optimize LMD-LMA workflow using an advanced evanescent-field fluorescence scanner.
- To enable precise and reproducible glycomic profiling of microscale tissue regions.
Main Methods:
- Developed three LMD-LMA approaches: morphology-guided, probe-guided on serial sections, and direct dissection from stained sections.
- Optimized workflow with a high-end evanescent-field fluorescence scanner (GSR2300) for enhanced sensitivity and reduced noise.
- Standardized LMA pipeline: protein extraction, Cy3 labeling, lectin-glycoprotein interaction, fluorescence scanning, and data qualification.
Main Results:
- Achieved precise glycomic profiling of microscale tissue regions (~0.1 mm², 5 μm thickness).
- Revealed intra- and inter-tissue-specific glycosylation patterns.
- Generated shareable "tissue glycome mapping" datasets via LM-GlycoRepo and visualized through LM-GlycomeAtlas under FAIR principles.
Conclusions:
- LMD-LMA provides a plug-and-play protocol for spatial glycomics, compatible with existing LMD pipelines.
- Enables co-registered datasets for spatial transcriptomics and proteomics by mirroring microdissected regions.
- Encourages integration of glycan information into broader spatial omics workflows for enhanced biological interpretation.
Related Concept Videos
02:34DNA Microarrays
21.1K
Microarrays are high-throughput and relatively inexpensive assays that can be automated to analyze large quantities of data at a time. They are used in genome-wide studies to compare gene or protein expression under two varied conditions, such as healthy and diseased states. Microarrays consist of glass or silica slides on which probe molecules are covalently attached through surface functionalization. Most commonly, the slides are prepared through the chemisorption of silanes to silica...
21.1K
01:42Microtubule Associated Proteins (MAPs)
5.9K
Microtubule function and architecture are regulated by an array of specialized proteins called microtubule-associated proteins or MAPs. These proteins are widespread across different organisms and have conserved protein motifs, like the multi-TOG domain for tubulin binding found in the CLASP family of MAPs. Some MAPs are lineage-specific based on their conserved domains. Their functions depend upon the cytoskeletal architecture and cell type they are located within. In-plant cells, a specific...
5.9K
01:15Depth Perception and Spatial Vision
2.0K
Depth perception is the ability to perceive objects three-dimensionally. It relies on two types of cues: binocular and monocular. Binocular cues depend on the combination of images from both eyes and how the eyes work together. Since the eyes are in slightly different positions, each eye captures a slightly different image. This disparity between images, known as binocular disparity, helps the brain interpret depth. When the brain compares these images, it determines the distance to an object.
2.0K
01:29Plotting of Topographic Maps
525
Topographic maps represent the Earth's surface features using contour lines, which connect points of equal elevation to create a two-dimensional representation of three-dimensional terrain. Creating a topographic map requires a systematic approach.Begin by plotting a scaled grid and marking intersections corresponding to the survey's elevation data points. Assign elevation values at these intersections to build the base map. Next, determine contour levels using a consistent contour interval,...
525
01:29Coordinates and Map Projections
614
Coordinates and map projections are essential tools in accurately representing the Earth's surface for various applications, ranging from navigation to spatial analysis. The latitude and longitude coordinate system is a universally recognized framework for defining locations. Latitude specifies the distance of a point north or south of the equator, measured in degrees from 0° at the equator to 90° at the poles. Longitude indicates a location's position east or west of the prime meridian,...
614
01:18Tissues
85.3K
Cells with similar structure and function are grouped into tissues. A group of tissues with a specialized function is called an organ. There are four main types of tissue in vertebrates: epithelial, connective, muscle, and nervous.
85.3K