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Recent evidence suggests that cancer cell-derived extracellular vesicles might facilitate immunoevasion. Glycans are known to play a key role in immunomodulation, especially when tethered to biological membranes. However, the extracellular vesicle glycocode in cancer immunoevasion remains a largely unexplored area with promising potential for new putative diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

Glycosylation is the most common post-translational modification of proteins, and glycosylation changes at cell surfaces are frequently associated with malignant epithelia including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). In HNSCC, 5-year survival remains poor, averaging around 50% globally: this is partly related to late diagnosis. Specific protein glycosylation signatures on malignant keratinocytes have promise as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and as therapeutic targets. Nevertheless, HNSCC-specific glycome is to date largely unknown. Herein, we tested six established HNSCC cell lines to capture the qualitative and semi-quantitative N-glycome using porous graphitized carbon liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry. Oligomannose-type N-glycans were the predominant features in all HNSCC cell lines analysed (57.5–70%). The levels of sialylated N-glycans showed considerable cell line-dependent differences ranging from 24 to 35%. Importantly, α2-6 linked sialylated N-glycans were dominant across most HNSCC cell lines except in SCC-9 cells where similar levels of α2-6 and α2-3 sialylated N-glycans were observed. Furthermore, we found that HPV-positive cell lines contained higher levels of phosphorylated oligomannose N-glycans, which hint towards an upregulation of lysosomal pathways. Almost all fucose-type N-glycans carried core-fucose residues with just minor levels (

EGFR Expression on target cells were evaluated using 1 µg/ml cetuximab and FITC-labeled goat-anti human IgG antibody by indirect immunofluorescence and flow cytometry.

Iontrap aquisition Settings according to MIRAGE Guidelines.

SDS-PAGE separated and electroblotted IgA Proteins after staining with direct blue 71. The red boxes indicate the bands cut out for subsequent N-glycan Analysis.

N-glycan structures of 225-IgA2-wt and 225-IgA2.0 identified by PGC-LC ESI MS/MS.

Antibodies of IgA isotype effectively engage myeloid effector cells for cancer immunotherapy. Here, we describe preclinical studies with an Fc engineered IgA2m(1) antibody containing the variable regions of the EGFR antibody cetuximab. Compared with wild-type IgA2m(1), the engineered molecule lacked two N-glycosylation sites (N166 and N337), two free cysteines (C311 and C472), and contained a stabilized heavy and light chain linkage (P221R mutation). This novel molecule displayed improved production rates and biochemical properties compared with wild-type IgA. In vitro, Fab- and Fc-mediated effector functions, such as inhibition of ligand binding, receptor modulation, and engagement of myeloid effector cells for antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, were similar between wild-type and engineered IgA2. The engineered antibody displayed lower levels of terminal galactosylation leading to reduced asialoglycoprotein-receptor binding and to improved pharmacokinetic properties. In a long-term in vivo model against EGFR-positive cancer cells, improved serum half-life translated into higher efficacy of the engineered molecule, which required myeloid cells expressing human FcαRI for its full efficacy. However, Fab-mediated effector functions contributed to the in vivo efficacy because the novel IgA antibody demonstrated therapeutic activity also in non-FcαRI transgenic mice. Together, these results demonstrate that engineering of an IgA antibody can significantly improve its pharmacokinetics and its therapeutic efficacy to inhibit tumor growth in vivo. Cancer Res; 76(2); 403–17. ©2015 AACR.

Relative Quantitation of N-glycan structures.

Infections by blood flukes (Cardicola spp.) are considered the most significant health issue for ranched bluefin tuna, a major aquaculture industry in Japan and Australia. The host-parasite interfaces of trematodes, namely their teguments, are particularly rich in carbohydrates, which function both in evasion and modulation of the host immune system, while some are primary antigenic targets. In this study, histochemistry and mass spectrometry techniques were used to profile the glycans of Cardicola forsteri. Fluorescent lectin staining of adult flukes indicates the presence of oligomannose (Concanavalin A-reactive) and fucosylated (Pisum sativum agglutinin-reactive) N-glycans. Additionally, reactivity of succinylated wheat germ agglutinin (s-WGA) was localised to several internal organs of the digestive and monoecious reproductive systems. Glycan structures were further investigated with tandem mass spectrometry, which revealed structures indicated by lectin reactivity. While O-glycans from these adult specimens were not detectable by mass spectrometry, several oligomannose, paucimannosidic, and complex-type N-glycans were identified, including some carrying hexuronic acid and many carrying core xylose. This is, to our knowledge, the first glycomic characterisation of a marine platyhelminth, with broader implications for research into other trematodes.

Glycoproteomics is a powerful yet analytically challenging research tool. Software packages aiding the interpretation of complex glycopeptide tandem mass spectra have appeared, but their relative performance remains untested. Conducted through the HUPO Human Glycoproteomics Initiative, this community study, comprising both developers and users of glycoproteomics software, evaluates solutions for system-wide glycopeptide analysis. The same mass spectrometrybased glycoproteomics datasets from human serum were shared with participants and the relative team performance for N - and O-glycopeptide data analysis was comprehensively established by orthogonal performance tests. Although the results were variable, several high-performance glycoproteomics informatics strategies were identified. Deep analysis of the data revealed key performance-associated search parameters and led to recommendations for improved ‘high-coverage’ and ‘high-accuracy’ glycoproteomics search solutions. This study concludes that diverse software packages for comprehensive glycopeptide data analysis exist, points to several high-performance search strategies and specifies key variables that will guide future software developments and assist informatics decision-making in glycoproteomics., This analysis presents the results of a community-based evaluation of existing software for large-scale glycopeptide data analysis.

B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) with mixed-lineage leukemia gene rearrangement (MLL-r) is a poor-prognosis subtype for which additional therapeutic targets are urgently needed. Currently no multi-omics data set for primary MLL r patient cells exists that integrates transcriptomics, proteomics and glycomics to gain an inclusive picture of theranostic targets. Methods: We have integrated transcriptomics, proteomics and glycomics to i) obtain the first inclusive picture of primary patient BCP-ALL cells and identify molecular signatures that distinguish leukemic from normal precursor B-cells and ii) better understand the benefits and limitations of the applied technologies to deliver deep molecular sequence data across major cellular biopolymers. Results: MLL-r cells feature an extensive remodeling of their glycocalyx, with increased levels of Core 2-type O-glycans and complex N-glycans as well as significant changes in sialylation and fucosylation. Notably, glycosaminoglycan remodeling from chondroitin sulfate to heparan sulfate was observed. A survival screen, to determine if glycan remodeling enzymes are redundant, identified MGAT1 and NGLY1, essential components of the N-glycosylation/degradation pathway, as highly relevant within this in vitro screening. OGT and OGA, unique enzymes that regulate intracellular O-GlcNAcylation, were also indispensable. Transcriptomics and proteomics further identified Fes and GALNT7-mediated glycosylation as possible therapeutic targets. While there is overall good correlation between transcriptomics and proteomics data, we demonstrate that a systematic combined multi-omics approach delivers important diagnostic information that is missed when applying a single omics technology. Conclusions: Apart from confirming well-known MLL-r BCP-ALL glycoprotein markers, our integrated multi-omics workflow discovered previously unidentified diagnostic/therapeutic protein targets.

Mixed-lineage Acute Leukemia (MLL) is one of the most high-risk forms of pediatric cancer. Although the long-term survival rates of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia have increased over the past 40 years, the current chemotherapeutic treatment schemes often fail in the treatment of MLL. The biological mechanisms resulting in drug resistance, however, are still not fully understood and there is an urgent need to identify novel diagnostic and therapeutical targets. We have established the first integrated multi-omics investigation of primary patient MLL samples and control precursor B bonemarrow cells from healthy donors, mapping their proteome, transcriptome and glycome. 4–6 million cells from 3 normal bone marrow (BM) and 2 MLL samples were used for analysis on our multi-omics platform. Porous-Graphitised Carbon (PGC) nanoLC-ESIMS/MS was used for Glycomics analyses after the enzymatic and chemical release of N- and O-glycans, respectively. The proteome was explored using RP-LC-ESI-MS/MS analyses, performed after offline high-pH fractionation, in addition to RNA-seq analyses. Overall, 4225 proteins were identified across the patient MLL and control BM cells, of which 216 were overexpressed in MLL (p 2). Preliminary analyses of the RNA-seq data matched well with the proteomics findings, revealing significant alterations in expression of glycoprotein signalling receptors and extracellular matrix proteins as well as various transcription factors. High-pH fractionation also allowed us to identify numerous important glycosyltransferases and expression changes thereof on protein and RNA– seq level. N- and O-glycomics revealed overall lower levels of α2–6 sialylated N- and O-glycans in MLL cells (correlating with ST6Gal1 transcript and ST6Gal1 protein levels) as well as an increase in Core 2 type O-glycans (correlating with GCNT1 transcript level). Patient MLL cells exhibit distinct N- and O-glycan fingerprints, along with specific alterations of receptor tyrosine kinase signalling networks. In addition to wellknown MLL glycoprotein markers, our integrated multiomics workflow identified a number of diagnostic/therapeutic protein candidates that have not previously been described.

A broad-based interlaboratory study of glycosylation profiles of a reference and modified IgG antibody involving 103 reports from 76 laboratories., Graphical Abstract Highlights A broad-based interlaboratory study of the glycosylation of a reference antibody: NISTmAb. 103 reports were received from 76 diverse laboratories worldwide. Analysis involved two samples, the NISTmAb and an enzymatically modified sample, enabling within-lab separation of random and systematic errors using the “Youden two-sample” method. Consensus values were derived and similar performance across all experimental methods was noted., Glycosylation is a topic of intense current interest in the development of biopharmaceuticals because it is related to drug safety and efficacy. This work describes results of an interlaboratory study on the glycosylation of the Primary Sample (PS) of NISTmAb, a monoclonal antibody reference material. Seventy-six laboratories from industry, university, research, government, and hospital sectors in Europe, North America, Asia, and Australia submitted a total of 103 reports on glycan distributions. The principal objective of this study was to report and compare results for the full range of analytical methods presently used in the glycosylation analysis of mAbs. Therefore, participation was unrestricted, with laboratories choosing their own measurement techniques. Protein glycosylation was determined in various ways, including at the level of intact mAb, protein fragments, glycopeptides, or released glycans, using a wide variety of methods for derivatization, separation, identification, and quantification. Consequently, the diversity of results was enormous, with the number of glycan compositions identified by each laboratory ranging from 4 to 48. In total, one hundred sixteen glycan compositions were reported, of which 57 compositions could be assigned consensus abundance values. These consensus medians provide community-derived values for NISTmAb PS. Agreement with the consensus medians did not depend on the specific method or laboratory type. The study provides a view of the current state-of-the-art for biologic glycosylation measurement and suggests a clear need for harmonization of glycosylation analysis methods.

N-linked glycosylation is a ubiquitous protein modification that is capable of modulating protein structure, function and interactions. Many proteins in the brain associated with the synapse and important for synaptic transmission are highly glycosylated and their glycosylation could be important for learning and memory related molecular processes and synaptic plasticity. In the present study, we extend the knowledge of the synaptic glycome and glycoproteome by performing glycan- and intact glycopeptide-focused analyses of isolated rat nerve terminals (synaptosomes) by LC-MS/MS. Overall, glycomics identified a total of 41N-glycans in isolated synaptosomes. SialylatedN-glycans represented only 7% of the total abundance of the rat synaptosomeN-glycome with oligomannose, neutral hybrid and complex typeN-glycans being the most abundant structures. Using detergent extraction of the active zone proteins from the synaptosomes revealed a change in the active zone glycan abundance in comparison with the rest of the synaptosome glycan content. Characterization of intact sialylatedN-linked glycopeptides enriched by titanium dioxide chromatography revealed more than 85% selectivity of sialylated species and the presence of NeuGc on active zone proteins. In addition, both disialic and trisialic acid modified glycans were present on synaptic glycoproteins, although oxonium ion profiling revealed that trisialic units were only present on glycoproteins in the detergent soluble fraction. However, correct identification of intact sialylatedN-linked glycopeptides using the Byonic program failed, most likely due to the lack of peptide backbone fragmentation during tandem mass spectrometry.

Morten Thaysen-Andersen, Daniel Kolarich and Nicolle H. Packer introduce the Molecular Omics themed issue on Glycomics & Glycoproteomics: From Analytics to Function.

B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) with mixed-lineage leukemia gene rearrangement (MLL-r) is a poor-prognosis subtype for which additional therapeutic targets are urgently needed. Currently no multi omics data set for primary MLL r patient cells exists that integrates transcriptomics, proteomics and glycomics to gain an inclusive picture of theranostic targets.MethodsWe have integrated transcriptomics, proteomics and glycomics to i) obtain the first inclusive picture of primary patient BCP-ALL cells and identify molecular signatures that distinguish leukemic from normal precursor B-cells and ii) better understand the benefits and limitations of the applied technologies to deliver deep molecular sequence data across major cellular biopolymers.ResultsMLL-r cells feature an extensive remodelling of their glycocalyx, with increased levels of Core 2-type O-glycans and complex N-glycans as well as significant changes in sialylation and fucosylation. Notably, glycosaminoglycan remodelling from chondroitin sulfate to heparan sulfate was observed. A survival screen, to determine if glycan remodelling enzymes are redundant, identified MGAT1 and NGLY1, essential components of the N-glycosylation/degradation pathway, as highly relevant within this in vitro screening. OGT and OGA, unique enzymes that regulate intracellular O-GlcNAcylation, were also indispensable. Transcriptomics and proteomics further identified Fes and GALNT7-mediated glycosylation as possible therapeutic targets. While there is overall good correlation between transcriptomics and proteomics data, we demonstrate that a systematic combined multi-omics approach delivers important diagnostic information that is missed when applying a single omics technology.ConclusionsApart from confirming well-known MLL-r BCP-ALL glycoprotein markers, our integrated multi-omics workflow discovered previously unidentified diagnostic/therapeutic protein targets.Graphical abstract

The Minimum Information Required for a Glycomics Experiment (MIRAGE) is an initiative created by experts in the fields of glycobiology, glycoanalytics and glycoinformatics to design guidelines that improve the reporting and reproducibility of glycoanalytical methods. Previously, the MIRAGE Commission has published guidelines for describing sample preparation methods and the reporting of glycan array and mass spectrometry techniques and data collections. Here, we present the first version of guidelines that aim to improve the quality of the reporting of liquid chromatography (LC) glycan data in the scientific literature. These guidelines cover all aspects of instrument setup and modality of data handling and manipulation and is cross-linked with other MIRAGE recommendations. The most recent version of the MIRAGE-LC guidelines is freely available at the MIRAGE project website doi:10.3762/mirage.4.

Knowledge of glycoproteins, their site-specific glycosylation patterns, and the glycan structures that they present to their recognition partners in health and disease is gradually being built on using a range of experimental approaches. The data from these analyses are increasingly being standardized and presented in various sources, from supplemental tables in publications to localized servers in investigator laboratories. Bioinformatics tools are now needed to collect these data and enable the user to search, display, and connect glycomics and glycoproteomics to other sources of related proteomics, genomics, and interactomics information. We here introduce GlyConnect ( https://glyconnect.expasy.org/ ), the central platform of the Glycomics@ExPASy portal for glycoinformatics. GlyConnect has been developed to gather, monitor, integrate, and visualize data in a user-friendly way to facilitate the interpretation of collected glycoscience data. GlyConnect is designed to accommodate and integrate multiple data types as they are increasingly produced.

Protein glycosylation is one of the most common post-translational modifications that are essential for cell function across all domains of life. Changes in glycosylation are considered a hallmark of many diseases, thus making glycoproteins important diagnostic and prognostic biomarker candidates and therapeutic targets. Glycoproteomics, the study of glycans and their carrier proteins in a system-wide context, is becoming a powerful tool in glycobiology that enables the functional analysis of protein glycosylation. This ‘Hitchhiker's guide to glycoproteomics’ is intended as a starting point for anyone who wants to explore the emerging world of glycoproteomics. The review moves from the techniques that have been developed for the characterisation of single glycoproteins to technologies that may be used for a successful complex glycoproteome characterisation. Examples of the variety of approaches, methodologies, and technologies currently used in the field are given. This review introduces the common strategies to capture glycoprotein-specific and system-wide glycoproteome data from tissues, body fluids, or cells, and a perspective on how integration into a multi-omics workflow enables a deep identification and characterisation of glycoproteins — a class of biomolecules essential in regulating cell function.

Glycoproteome profiling (glycoproteomics) is a powerful yet analytically challenging research tool. The complex tandem mass spectra generated from glycopeptide mixtures require sophisticated analysis pipelines for structural determination. Diverse software aiding the process have appeared, but their relative performance remains untested. Conducted through the HUPO Human Proteome Project – Human Glycoproteomics Initiative, this community study, comprising both developers and users of glycoproteomics software, evaluates the performance of informatics solutions for system-wide glycopeptide analysis. Mass spectrometry-based glycoproteomics datasets from human serum were shared with all teams. The relative team performance forN- andO-glycopeptide data analysis was comprehensively established and validated through orthogonal performance tests. Excitingly, several high-performance glycoproteomics informatics solutions were identified. While the study illustrated that significant informatics challenges remain, as indicated by a high discordance between annotated glycopeptides, lists of high-confidence (consensus) glycopeptides were compiled from the standardised team reports. Deep analysis of the performance data revealed key performance-associated search variables and led to recommendations for improved “high coverage” and “high accuracy” glycoproteomics search strategies. This study concludes that diverse software for comprehensive glycopeptide data analysis exist, points to several high-performance search strategies, and specifies key variables that may guide future software developments and assist informatics decision-making in glycoproteomics.

Glycosylation is a key factor determining the pharmacological properties of biotherapeutics, including their stability, solubility, bioavailability, pharmacokinetics, and immunogenicity. As such, comprehensive information about glycosylation of biotherapeutics is critical to demonstrate similarity. Regulatory agencies also require extensive documentation of the comprehensive analyses of glycosylation-related critical quality attributes (CQAs) during the development, manufacturing, and release of biosimilars. Mass spectrometry has catalysed tremendous advancements in the characterisation of glycosylation CQAs of biotherapeutics. Here we provide a perspective overview on the MS-based technologies relevant for biotherapeutic product characterisation with an emphasis on the recent developments that allow determination of glycosylation features such as site of glycosylation, sialic acid linkage, glycan structure, and content.

Glycosylation affects the properties of biologics; thus regulatory bodies classified it as critical quality attribute and force biopharma industry to capture and control it throughout all phases, from RD till end of product lifetime. The shift from originators to biosimilars further increases importance and extent of glycoanalysis, which thus increases the need for technology platforms enabling reliable high-throughput and in-depth glycan analysis. In this chapter, we will first summarize on established glycoanalytical methods based on liquid chromatography focusing on hydrophilic interaction chromatography, capillary electrophoresis focusing on multiplexed capillary gel electrophoresis, and mass spectrometry focusing on matrix-assisted laser desorption; we will then highlight two emerging technologies based on porous graphitized carbon liquid chromatography and on ion-mobility mass spectrometry as both are highly promising tools to deliver an additional level of information for in-depth glycan analysis; additionally we elaborate on the advantages and challenges of different glycoanalytical technologies and their complementarity; finally, we briefly review applications thereof to biopharmaceutical products. This chapter provides an overview of current state-of-the-art analytical approaches for glycan characterization of biopharmaceuticals that can be employed to capture glycoprotein heterogeneity in a biopharmaceutical context.

Glycosylation affects the properties of biologics; thus regulatory bodies classified it as critical quality attribute and force biopharma industry to capture and control it throughout all phases, from RD we will then highlight two emerging technologies based on porous graphitized carbon liquid chromatography and on ion-mobility mass spectrometry as both are highly promising tools to deliver an additional level of information for in-depth glycan analysis; additionally we elaborate on the advantages and challenges of different glycoanalytical technologies and their complementarity; finally, we briefly review applications thereof to biopharmaceutical products. This chapter provides an overview of current state-of-the-art analytical approaches for glycan characterization of biopharmaceuticals that can be employed to capture glycoprotein heterogeneity in a biopharmaceutical context.

Glycosylation is a key factor determining the pharmacological properties of biotherapeutics, including their stability, solubility, bioavailability, pharmacokinetics, and immunogenicity. As such, comprehensive information about glycosylation of biotherapeutics is critical to demonstrate similarity. Regulatory agencies also require extensive documentation of the comprehensive analyses of glycosylation-related critical quality attributes (CQAs) during the development, manufacturing, and release of biosimilars. Mass spectrometry has catalysed tremendous advancements in the characterisation of glycosylation CQAs of biotherapeutics. Here we provide a perspective overview on the MS-based technologies relevant for biotherapeutic product characterisation with an emphasis on the recent developments that allow determination of glycosylation features such as site of glycosylation, sialic acid linkage, glycan structure, and content.

Glycan identification and characterisation is essential to correlate glycoconjugate structure to biological function. The structural assignment of carbohydrates is often based on MS composition analyses and knowledge on well-studied glycosylation pathways. Nevertheless, many monosaccharide building blocks are indistinguishable by mass alone and detailed linkage information is also not easily obtained by MS/MS analyses, in particular when organisms are studied where the glycosylation pathways are less well defined. Here, we present a novel, simple and sensitive method using Reversed Phase (RP) – Liquid Chromatography Electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry (LC–ESI-MS/MS) for unambiguous identification and linkage determination of monosaccharides including N-acetylneuraminic acids. Sequential permethylation and reductive amination steps are employed prior and after acid hydrolysis to enable separation and differentiation of the various monosaccharides and their respective linkage positions. The well-established, monosaccharide specific methylation patterns allowed for the identification of the various derivatised monosaccharide alditols based on their retention time and tandem mass spectrometry fingerprint. Absolute quantitation can also be accomplished by including a set of internal standards, thus simultaneously providing qualitative and quantitative information on the monosaccharide residues present.

Flagellated, Gram-negative, anaerobic, crescent-shaped Selenomonas species are colonizers of the digestive system, where they act at the interface between health and disease. Selenomonas sputigena is also considered a potential human periodontal pathogen, but information on its virulence factors and underlying pathogenicity mechanisms is scarce. Here we provide the first report of a Selenomonas glycoprotein, showing that S. sputigena produces a diversely and heavily O-glycosylated flagellin C9LY14 as a major cellular protein, which carries various hitherto undescribed rhamnose- and N-acetylglucosamine linked O-glycans in the range from mono- to hexasaccharides. A comprehensive glycomic and glycoproteomic assessment revealed extensive glycan macro- and micro-heterogeneity identified from 22 unique glycopeptide species. From the multiple sites of glycosylation, five were unambiguously identified on the 437-amino acid C9LY14 protein (Thr149, Ser182, Thr199, Thr259, and Ser334), the only flagellin protein identified. The O-glycans additionally showed modifications by methylation and putative acetylation. Some O-glycans carried hitherto undescribed residues/modifications as determined by their respective m/z values, reflecting the high diversity of native S. sputigena flagellin. We also found that monosaccharide rearrangement occurred during collision-induced dissociation (CID) of protonated glycopeptide ions. This effect resulted in pseudo Y1-glycopeptide fragment ions that indicated the presence of additional glycosylation sites on a single glycopeptide. CID oxonium ions and electron transfer dissociation, however, confirmed that just a single site was glycosylated, showing that glycan-to-peptide rearrangement can occur on glycopeptides and that this effect is influenced by the molecular nature of the glycan moiety. This effect was most pronounced with disaccharides. This study is the first report on O-linked flagellin glycosylation in a Selenomonas species, revealing that C9LY14 is one of the most heavily glycosylated flagellins described to date. This study contributes to our understanding of the largely under-investigated surface properties of oral bacteria. The data have been deposited to the ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD005859.

Background: Glycosylation is the most common post-translational modification of proteins, and glycosylation changes at cell surfaces are frequently associated with malignant epithelia. These affect many functions including proliferation, motility and invasiveness, increasing the propensity to metastasise. Many head & neck squamous cell carcinomata (HNSCC), especially those originating in the lymphoid mucosa of the oropharynx, are driven by so-called high risk genotypes of Human Papillomavirus (HPV). Five-year survival remains poor, averaging around 50% globally: this is partly related to late diagnosis. Specific protein glycosylation signatures on malignant keratinocytes have promise as diagnostic and prognostic markers and as therapeutic targets. Here we begin creation of a glyco-fingerprint library mapping the glyco-space of HNSCC. Materials and methods: Six established HNSCC cell lines were used to capture the qualitative and semi-quantitative profile of the N- and O-glycome using the well-established porous graphitized carbon (PGC) glycomics approach. Furthermore, we attempted to evaluate the effect sialylation has on HNSCC cell migration by enzymatically removing sialic acid residues from cell surface glycoconjugates. Therefore, we used the enzyme neuraminidase to remove sialic acids from HNSCC cells and measured cell proliferation rates by using incucyte. Results: In Human Papillomavirus (HPV) negative HNSCC cell lines, 37-41% of cells carried oligomannoses on their surfaces compared to 45% in HPV+ cell lines. Sialylated N-glycan were the most abundant type of N-glycan, contributing to >40% of the N-glycome in the HPV negative cell lines: but just 32-38% in HPV+ cell lines; di- and tri-sialylated forms were most frequent. The majority of complex type N-glycans (33%) carried core-fucose residues with just minor levels ( Conclusion: This first systematic mapping reveals diverse glycosylation of head and neck cancer cell lines with high levels of core fucosylation and sialylation. Differences between HPV positive and negative cells may partly explain the comparatively good prognosis of HPV-driven HNC. This mapping forms the basis of histopathological profiling of real tumours which might have prognostic potential and suggest targets for immunotherapy. Removal of sialic acids resulted in decreased cell proliferation in vitro, indicating the fundamental role of protein glycosylation in the pathogenesis of HNC. Citation Format: Mohammad Rasheduzzaman, Xi Zhang, Riccardo Dolcetti, Liz Kenny, Newell W. Johnson, Daniel Kolarich, Chamindie Punyadeera. Glycomics: Protein glycosylation changes in the pathogenesis of head and neck cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr 272.

While aberrant protein glycosylation is a recognized characteristic of human cancers, advances in glycoanalytics continue to discover new associations between glycoproteins and tumorigenesis. This glycomics-centric study investigates a possible link between protein paucimannosylation, an under-studied class of human N-glycosylation [Man 1-3 GlcNAc 2 Fuc 0-1 ], and cancer. The paucimannosidic glycans (PMGs) of 34 cancer cell lines and 133 tissue samples spanning 11 cancer types and matching non-cancerous specimens are profiled from 467 published and unpublished PGC-LC-MS/MS N-glycome datasets collected over a decade. PMGs, particularly Man 2-3 GlcNAc 2 Fuc 1 , are prominent features of 29 cancer cell lines, but the PMG level varies dramatically across and within the cancer types (1.0-50.2%). Analyses of paired (tumor/non-tumor) and stage-stratified tissues demonstrate that PMGs are significantly enriched in tumor tissues from several cancer types including liver cancer (p = 0.0033) and colorectal cancer (p = 0.0017) and is elevated as a result of prostate cancer and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia progression (p < 0.05). Surface expression of paucimannosidic epitopes is demonstrated on human glioblastoma cells using immunofluorescence while biosynthetic involvement of N-acetyl-β-hexosaminidase is indicated by quantitative proteomics. This intriguing association between protein paucimannosylation and human cancers warrants further exploration to detail the biosynthesis, cellular location(s), protein carriers, and functions of paucimannosylation in tumorigenesis and metastasis.

The CaptiveSpray source ensures a stable spray and excellent nano ESI performance facilitated by a vortex gas that sweeps around the emitter spray tip to support liquid desolvation and focus the Taylor cone. Enriching the vortex gas with dopant solvents provides tremendous opportunities to increase ionization efficiency, in particular for hydrophilic compounds such as glycopeptides. How this CaptiveSpray nanobooster benefits their analysis, however, has to date not been systematically studied.We evaluated various dopant solvents such as (i) acetone (ii) acetonitrile (iii) methanol (iv) ethanol and (v) isopropanol for their ability to enhance glycopeptide ionization. Using a synthetic IgG2 glycopeptide as a standard, acetonitrile provided a five-fold increase in signal intensities and resulted in an overall charge state increase compared to conventional CaptiveSpray ionization. This trend remained the same when tryptic IgG (glyco)peptides were analyzed and allowed highly sensitive detection of glycopeptides even without any enrichment. While acetone dopant gas enhanced glycopeptide ionization by doubling glycopeptide signal intensities, all other tested solvents resulted either in ion suppression or adduct formation. This is in agreement with and can be explained by their individual physio-chemical properties of the solvents. Finally, by omitting glycopeptide enrichment steps, we established a bias-free human Immunoglobulin G (IgG) subclass specific glycosylation profile applying the optimized CaptiveSpray nanoBooster nano-LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis conditions.

The mass spectrometry (MS)-based analysis of free polysaccharides and glycans released from proteins, lipids and proteoglycans increasingly relies on databases and software. Here, we review progress in the bioinformatics analysis of protein-released N- and O-linked glycans (N- and O-glycomics) and propose an e-infrastructure to overcome current deficits in data and experimental transparency. This workflow enables the standardized submission of MS-based glycomics information into the public repository UniCarb-DR. It implements the MIRAGE (Minimum Requirement for A Glycomics Experiment) reporting guidelines, storage of unprocessed MS data in the GlycoPOST repository and glycan structure registration using the GlyTouCan registry, thereby supporting the development and extension of a glycan structure knowledgebase., Glycomics is gaining momentum in basic, translational and clinical research. Here, the authors review current reporting standards and analysis tools for mass-spectrometry-based glycomics, and propose an e-infrastructure for standardized reporting and online deposition of glycomics data.

Individual monosaccharides can be linked in a variety of different combinations to form complex glycoconjugates. In contrast to DNA and proteins, glycoconjugate synthesis does not follow any template but is the consequence of the concerted action of various enzymes such as transferases and glycosidases . Thus, tools for glycoconjugate sequencing need to differentiate individual monosaccharide identity, linkage and anomericity to investigate and understand glycoconjugate function. In this chapter we provide a concise overview on the most commonly used and robust tools to separate and characterise glycoconjugate isomers.

Glycosylation is the most common post-translational modification (PTM) of proteins. Malignant tumour cells frequently undergo an alteration in surface protein glycosylation. This phenomenon is also common in cancers of the head and neck, most of which are squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). It affects cell functions, including proliferation, motility and invasiveness, thus increasing the propensity to metastasise. HNSCC represents the sixth most frequent malignancy worldwide. These neoplasms, which arise from the mucous membranes of the various anatomical subsites of the upper aero-digestive tract, are heterogeneous in terms of aetiology and clinico-pathologic features. With current treatments, only about 50% of HNSCC patients survive beyond 5-years. Therefore, there is the pressing need to dissect NHSCC heterogeneity to inform treatment choices. In particular, reliable biomarkers of predictive and prognostic value are eagerly needed. This review describes the current state of the art and bio-pathological meaning of glycosylation signatures associated with HNSCC and explores the possible role of tumour specific glycoproteins as potential biomarkers and attractive therapeutic targets. We have also compiled data relating to altered glycosylation and the nature of glycoproteins as tools for the identification of circulating tumour cells (CTCs) in the new era of liquid biopsy.

Proteins are frequently modified by complex carbohydrates (glycans) that play central roles in maintaining the structural and functional integrity of cells and tissues in humans and lower organisms. Mannose forms an essential building block of protein glycosylation, and its functional involvement as components of larger and diverse α-mannosidic glycoepitopes in important intra- and intercellular glycoimmunological processes is gaining recognition. With a focus on the mannose-rich asparagine (N-linked) glycosylation type, this review summarises the increasing volume of literature covering human and non-human protein mannosylation, including their structures, biosynthesis and spatiotemporal expression. The review also covers their known interactions with specialised host and microbial mannose-recognising C-type lectin receptors (mrCLRs) and antibodies (mrAbs) during inflammation and pathogen infection. Advances in molecular mapping technologies have recently revealed novel immuno-centric mannose-terminating truncated N-glycans, termed paucimannosylation, on human proteins. The cellular presentation of α-mannosidic glycoepitopes on N-glycoproteins appears tightly regulated; α-mannose determinants are relative rare glycoepitopes in physiological extracellular environments, but may be actively secreted or leaked from cells to transmit potent signals when required. Simultaneously, our understanding of the molecular basis on the recognition of mannosidic epitopes by mrCLRs including DC-SIGN, mannose receptor, mannose binding lectin and mrAb is rapidly advancing, together with the functional implications of these interactions in facilitating an effective immune response during physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Ultimately, deciphering these complex mannose-based receptor-ligand interactions at the detailed molecular level will significantly advance our understanding of immunological disorders and infectious diseases, promoting the development of future therapeutics to improve patient clinical outcomes.

Human blood group polymorphisms are known to be determined by the expression of A, B or H antigens and the Lewis antigens. Protection against microbial infections has been associated with inheritance of polymorphisms in genes encoding and regulating the expression of ABH and Lewis antigens in bodily secretions and epithelial tissue surfaces, subsequently resulting in the presentation of different glycosylated terminal antigens on the cell surface. We investigated the role of blood group antigens in diversifying the glycosylation of buccal epithelial cells (BEC) that line the oral cavity. Specifically, we characterized and statistically evaluated the expression of histo-blood group (A, B, O) antigens on N-and O-linked glycans from BEC membrane proteins of various individuals that represented different blood group type and secretor status using a porous graphitic carbon liquid chromatography electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (PGC-LC-ESI-MS) based glycomics approach. From these BEC membrane proteins a total of 77 N-glycan and 96 O-glycan structures were structurally characterized from 19 individuals and relatively quantitated. The N-glycans from the secretor individuals did not express any A/B blood group determinants, but contained several terminal H-antigens. Apart from the non-secretors, the N-glycan profiles of BEC from all blood groups displayed similar glycan types, while varying in their relative intensities between individuals. However, multivariate analysis of the O-glycans from individuals displayed segregation patterns clearly associated with their blood group type and secretor status. In adhesion assays the oral pathogen Candida albicans showed a significantly higher interaction to blood group O type BECs relative to other blood groups.