Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 14.4
Schematic representation of the
relationships between lectin profi ling and
glycan profi ling. A model example with four
lectins (designated here I, II, III and IV) and
four glycans (A, B, C and D) is shown. Binding
affi nities of each of the four lectins to a set
of the four glycans are expressed in a three-
dimensional bar graph in terms of relative affi n-
ity. The binding pattern of each of the four
lectins to the four glycans is the ' lectin profi le '
(upper left panel), whereas the signal pattern
of each of the glycans to the four lectins is the
' glycan profi le ' (upper right panel).
An approach using the lectin microarray would therefore be expected to succeed
in targeting both
O
- glycans and
N
-glycans (for details on structures of
N
- and
O
-glycans, please see Chapters 6-8). The lectin microarray strategy is distinct in
several aspects from other conventional methods. Unlike MS and HPLC (includ-
ing FAC), the lectin microarray does not require prior glycan liberation. This is a
great advantage for non-specialized researchers [10, 11]. Moreover, the method is
directly applicable not only to purifi ed glyco-materials (such as a glycoprotein), but
also to crude samples containing various glycoconjugates, such as cell lysates, body
fl uids (sera, urine) and bacteria [12 - 15] . Through differential profi ling by lectin
microarray, structural differences can be directly detected as the changes in signal
patterns on the lectin microarray. The system is useful for the quality control of
