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Updated: Jun 29, 2026

Glycopeptide Capture for Cell Surface Proteomics
Published on: May 9, 2014
Cell surface Glycans: from recognition technologies and functional editing to medical applications
Tingting Zhang1, Yongbin Xu1, Yupeng Liu1
1The State Key Laboratory of Discovery and Utilization of Functional Components in Traditional Chinese Medicine, The MOE Key Laboratory for Standardization of Chinese Medicines, SATCM Key Laboratory for New Resources, Quality Evaluation of Chinese Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1200 Cailun Road, Shanghai 201203, PR China.
Abstract:
Cell-surface glycans play essential roles in cell communication, immune recognition, and disease progression. Their medical applications are supported by two important technological pillars: glycan recognition and glycan editing. This Review focuses on three key directions: recognition technologies, namely, in situ imaging and glycomic profiling, for detecting and profiling glycans; functional editing technologies, including genetic, enzymatic, chemical, and metabolic approaches, for precisely remodelling glycans; and medical applications driven by the synergy between recognition and editing, with a focus on four areas: biomarkers, lectin-based therapies, precision glycan editing, and cancer immunotherapy. Throughout the Review, five representative glycan classes-high-mannose N-glycans, mucin-type O-GalNAc, heparan sulfate, ganglioside GM3, and glycoRNAs-are used as recurring examples wherever possible. This Review offers an integrated perspective to navigate the process by which glycan recognition and editing technologies collectively drive the translation of cell-surface glycan research into clinical practice.
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