University of Georgia

Training in Glycoscience

Due to the Covid 19 Pandemic the Complex Carbohydrate Research Center’s Hands-On-Training Courses in 2020 will be changed to shorter virtual online courses.  These courses will be given free of charge to participants.

The number of participants for this online course is limited, so early registration is recommended.

Course 1 : Introduction to the Carbohydrate Structure of Polysaccharides (August 3-4, 2020).

This 2-day virtual course will provide series of lectures and demonstrations, which cover the theory and techniques of isolation, purification and structure characterization of polysaccharides, oligosaccharides, and glycoconjugates. The lectures include “Structural Characterization of Carbohydrates”, “Isolation and Characterization of Bacterial Surface Polysaccharides”, “Xyloglucan Structure and Biosynthesis”, as well as “Plant Cell Wall Pectin”. The demonstrations, especially, will deliver detailed techniques and data interpretation for composition and linkage analyses of monosaccharide residues in polysaccharides, oligosaccharides, and glycoconjugates.

Tentative 2020 Schedule

Takeaways:

  • Gain an introduction to isolation and structure characterization of polysaccharides, oligosaccharides, and glycoconjugates.
  • Learn various techniques for the analysis of carbohydrates
  • Participants will experience hands-on data interpretation with provided example datasets.

Preparation:

  • We will provide a link to the platform on the day of the class
  • This class requires a computer and strong internet connection
  • Participants should be familiar with basic fundamentals of chemistry and biochemistry.
Course 2 : Introduction to Glycomic and Glycoproteomic Analysis (August 10-12, 2020).

In this 3-day virtual course, participants will learn basic techniques for glycomic and glycopeptide analysis via a combination of virtual demos, hands-on data interpretation, and lectures. Topics to be included are: release and structural characterization of N- and O-linked glycans, glycopeptide and glycoproteomics analysis, biology of glycosylation, glycolipid analysis, and data interpretation. The final day will include optional additional modules on using mass spectrometry, and NMR spectroscopy for the analysis of glycoconjugates.

Tentative 2020 Schedule

Takeaways:

  • Understand basic principles of protein and lipid glycosylation, structure, and function within biological systems.
  • Learn analytical strategies to release, isolate, and permethylate N- and O-linked glycans, or to prepare solutions of glycopeptides from proteins, tissue, or cells
  • Familiarize with methods to analyze glycans and glycopeptides using multiple analytical techniques, including mass spectrometry, chromatography, and/or NMR.
  • Experience hands-on data interpretation with provided example datasets, available databases and downloadable software.

Preparation:

  • This class is to be taken completely online
  • We will provide a link to the platform on the day of the class
  • This class requires a computer and strong internet connection
  • Participants should be familiar with basic fundamentals of biochemical analysis.
Course 3 : Analytical Techniques for Structural Characterization of Glycosaminoglycans (August 17-18, 2020).

In this 2-day virtual course, participants will learn fundamental techniques for glycosaminoglycan (GAG) analysis via a combination of virtual demos, hands-on data interpretation, and lectures. Topics to be included are: biological considerations of glycosaminoglycans, GAGs as biotherapeutics, isolation of GAGs from cells and tissue, and analysis of GAGs with chromatography, mass spectrometry, and NMR.

Tentative 2020 Schedule

Takeaways:

  • Gain an introductory understanding of glycosaminoglycans, including their status as potent biotherapeutics, and learn relevant analytical techniques
  • Understand characterization techniques for GAG-based drug products, and GAG modification strategies
  • Learn strategies to release, isolate, and analyze GAGs through a variety of methods including chromatography, mass spectrometry, plate assays, and NMR.

Preparation:

  • This class is to be taken completely online
  • We will provide a link to the platform on the day of the class
  • This class requires a computer and strong internet connection
  • Participants should be familiar with basic fundamentals of biochemical analysis.