Every cell has multiple types of glycan on its surface where they play vital roles in cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. Structural determination is essential for understanding the roles that glycans play in biological systems. Mass spectrometry (MS), with its ultra-high sensitivity and ability to analyse complex mixtures of glycans, is the most powerful tool currently available for glycan structure analysis. Our laboratory is engaged in numerous world-wide collaborations in which we exploit high sensitivity glycomic and glycoproteomic methodologies for the structural characterization of glycans found in a diverse range of biological material. This presentation will describe MS strategies for defining the glycomes of cells, tissues and purified glycoconjugates, as well as establishing glycoprotein site-specific glycosylation. The broad range of our research activities will be illustrated by data from ongoing collaborative projects embracing host pathogen interactions and human health and disease.

This work is supported by the BBSRC and the Wellcome Trust.