Training in Glycoscience

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 poly-, oligo-saccharides and glyco-conjugates. The lectures include “Structural Characterization of Carbohydrate”, “Isolation and Characterization of Bacterial Surface Polysaccharide”, “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 poly-, oligo-saccharides and glyco-conjugates.

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.

Mass Spectrometric (MS) Analysis of Glycoconjugates: The use of mass spectrometry for the characterization of glycoconjugates will be discussed. Topics in this area will include identifying occupied glycosylation sites by LC-MS and sequencing glycoprotein glycans with sequential exoglycosidase digestions followed by MS.

Computational Simulations of Carbohydrate Conformation: The course will present a discussion of the conformational preferences of oligosaccharides. Focus will then shift to the prediction and validation of oligosaccharide structures produced computationally with molecular dynamics simulations with the AMBER/GLYCAM force field.

NMR of Carbohydrates: This module will be an introduction to the application of NMR spectroscopy of polysaccharides and glycoconjugates covering a) essential features of NMR spectra, b) protocols used to solve primary structures, iii) applications and examples from the current literature, and c) resources for information.

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 MALDI, LC-MS, tandem MS, and multiple fragmentation techniques
• Additional analytical techniques including chromatography and NMR, and molecular modeling techniques
• 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.

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 introduction to 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.
• Participants will experience hands-on data interpretation with provided example datasets.

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.
• Access to Basic worksheet software (Excel, Google Sheets, Pages, etc)