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Research
The Research in the glycomics and glycoproteomics group uses the development of
methods for glycan and glycoprotein analysis to apply these methods for
increasing our understanding on the onset and progression of various diseases.
Mass
Spectrometry is a major tool to assess, identify and characterise glycans
and glycoproteins in diseases like chronic inflammations of the bowel (Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis)
or in infertility, to name just two examples. In cooperation with partners in
our Department as well as partners from Berlin and Vienna the glycoproteome is
targeted to find glycoproteins that might help to understand diseases better
and to develop novel treatments based on the obtained knowledge.
Glycoproteins - promising biomarkers
Glycosylation has been shown to have tissue specific characteristics and
reflect changes in various diseases particularly in cancer and inflammation [Lit]. Various proteomics
studies on tissue and/or plasma often report differences between healthy and
disease states at the protein level [Lit, Lit], however unless a
tissue or disease specific protein is identified (e.g. prostate specific
antigen [PSA], itself
a glycoprotein), single protein biomarkers alone often lack specificity and do
not allow for unambiguous conclusions about a disease and its progression.
Exploiting concomitantly both the glycan AND protein aspect of glycoproteins as
diagnostic markers promises more specificity and sensitivity and will improve
diagnosis and monitoring of diseases. Furthermore, an integrated approach
investigating both aspects of glycoproteins will also lead to better
understanding of biological processes and may result in identification of
unique signatures for certain disease.
Porous Graphitized Carbon Glycomics
Porous Graphitized Carbon (PGC) LC ESI MS/MS provides the basis for unravelling
the specific features that protein glycans exhibit. In combination with mass
spectrometry this method provides a very exact and sensitive approach that
allows the detailed identification and characterisation of N- and
O-linked glycans from low microgram amounts of glycoproteins.
N- and O-glycans on glycoproteins are a way for nature to
change biomessaging pathways, thus understanding glycoprotein functions and how
e.g. cell-cell interactions are regulated requires efficient and sensitive ways
of differentiating exactly these structural features.
Glycoproteomics
Understanding the biological role of glycoproteins requires methods and
approaches that allow their characterisation in more detail than currently
widespread methods allow. Appropriate sample preparation techniques as well as
bioinformatic solutions are required to allow deeper insights into
glycoproteins and their involvement in biological processes. With the use of
sophisticated mass spectrometry techniques we are able to detect and identify
glycoproteins with very high sensitivity.
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| © 2012, Max-Planck-Institut für Kolloid- und Grenzflächenforschung, Potsdam |
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