Glycans cover the surfaces of most cells and are a major constituent of the extracellular matrix in mammalian tissues. They play indispensable roles in cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions. Many classes of glycoconjugates exist, including glycoproteins, proteoglycans, glycosaminoglycans and glycosphingolipids, of which the biosynthesis is orchestrated by hundreds of different enzymes, spawning a multitude of glycosylation types and structures. The functions of these glycans range from the protection of epithelial surfaces and regulation of protein cleavage and folding to receptor recognition and cellular organization. Furthermore, glycans play a role in maintaining homeostasis and in host-pathogen interactions, and changes in glycoconjugate compositions are associated with inflammation, cancerous transformation, and metabolic disorders. These condition-specific alterations have potential use in diagnosis and therapeutic intervention. To understand and exploit tissue glycans in pathological conditions, highly sensitive analytical methodologies that allow assessing the spatial distribution of glycans in the tissue are instrumental. Mass spectrometry, often in combination with other separation modules, is a powerful tool for the in-depth structural characterization of glycoconjugates in complex samples such as tissues and has proven its applicability in tissue glycomics. Further developments in methodology are a prerequisite for addressing challenging questions regarding the glycosylation of individual cells or cell types and the extracellular matrix, with high structural resolution.
The current Research Topic aims to cover state-of-the-art mass spectrometry methods, in combination with liquid- and gas-phase separation approaches, for in-depth investigation of tissue glycoconjugates that focus on improved sensitivity, and/or improved spatial or structural resolution. We envision to cover both development and application of methods for the investigation of cell and tissue glycosylation in homeostasis, differentiation, and disease development.
We welcome the submission of Original Research, Methods, Review, and Mini-Review articles that may include, but are not limited to:
- The development of new separation and mass spectrometry technologies for the analysis of a broad range of glycoconjugates (e.g., released glycans, glycoproteins, proteoglycans, glycosaminoglycans or glycosphingolipids) in 2D and 3D cultured cells or tissues.
- Novel sample preparation and homogenization approaches suitable for tissue characterization using mass spectrometry.
- Miniaturized sample preparation for high sensitivity glycomics applied on low quantities of cells.
- Mass spectrometry imaging approaches for the spatial analysis of glycoconjugates in tissues.
- The application of state-of-the-art mass spectrometry to investigate disease associated alterations in glycan structures in tissues and cells.
- Developments in glycan bioinformatics tools to explore and visualize tissue glycomics data.
- The integration of tissue glycomics with other omics, for example transcriptomics or proteomics
Glycans cover the surfaces of most cells and are a major constituent of the extracellular matrix in mammalian tissues. They play indispensable roles in cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions. Many classes of glycoconjugates exist, including glycoproteins, proteoglycans, glycosaminoglycans and glycosphingolipids, of which the biosynthesis is orchestrated by hundreds of different enzymes, spawning a multitude of glycosylation types and structures. The functions of these glycans range from the protection of epithelial surfaces and regulation of protein cleavage and folding to receptor recognition and cellular organization. Furthermore, glycans play a role in maintaining homeostasis and in host-pathogen interactions, and changes in glycoconjugate compositions are associated with inflammation, cancerous transformation, and metabolic disorders. These condition-specific alterations have potential use in diagnosis and therapeutic intervention. To understand and exploit tissue glycans in pathological conditions, highly sensitive analytical methodologies that allow assessing the spatial distribution of glycans in the tissue are instrumental. Mass spectrometry, often in combination with other separation modules, is a powerful tool for the in-depth structural characterization of glycoconjugates in complex samples such as tissues and has proven its applicability in tissue glycomics. Further developments in methodology are a prerequisite for addressing challenging questions regarding the glycosylation of individual cells or cell types and the extracellular matrix, with high structural resolution.
The current Research Topic aims to cover state-of-the-art mass spectrometry methods, in combination with liquid- and gas-phase separation approaches, for in-depth investigation of tissue glycoconjugates that focus on improved sensitivity, and/or improved spatial or structural resolution. We envision to cover both development and application of methods for the investigation of cell and tissue glycosylation in homeostasis, differentiation, and disease development.
We welcome the submission of Original Research, Methods, Review, and Mini-Review articles that may include, but are not limited to:
- The development of new separation and mass spectrometry technologies for the analysis of a broad range of glycoconjugates (e.g., released glycans, glycoproteins, proteoglycans, glycosaminoglycans or glycosphingolipids) in 2D and 3D cultured cells or tissues.
- Novel sample preparation and homogenization approaches suitable for tissue characterization using mass spectrometry.
- Miniaturized sample preparation for high sensitivity glycomics applied on low quantities of cells.
- Mass spectrometry imaging approaches for the spatial analysis of glycoconjugates in tissues.
- The application of state-of-the-art mass spectrometry to investigate disease associated alterations in glycan structures in tissues and cells.
- Developments in glycan bioinformatics tools to explore and visualize tissue glycomics data.
- The integration of tissue glycomics with other omics, for example transcriptomics or proteomics