Glycoproteomics
GLYCO PROTEOMICS
Glycoproteomics is the field that maps and measures how proteins are modified by glycans. Glycans are complex sugar structures that shape nearly every aspect of protein behavior. These glycans determine how proteins fold, how long they survive and how they interact with other molecules. Because most secreted and cell‑surface proteins are glycosylated, glycoproteomics provides a key molecular layer of information in studying immunity, inflammation, metabolism, and disease progression.
Modern glycoproteomics combines several advanced technologies. High‑resolution mass spectrometry (MS) enables site‑specific identification of N‑ and O‑glycans on thousands of proteins. Advanced MS fragmentation (MS2) and separation strategies, including ion mobility, reveal glycan composition and structure. Enrichment strategies, glycopeptide‑specific search engines, and emerging AI‑supported analysis allow researchers to detect subtle glycan changes with increasing sensitivity. Spatial and single‑cell approaches are the next frontier in determining where glycan changes occur in situ.
In biomedical research, glycoproteomics is essential for understanding disease mechanisms, discovering biomarkers, and developing targeted therapies. Altered glycosylation drives cancer progression, shapes host–microbe interactions, modulates immune responses, and influences metabolic disease. By mapping these changes at molecular resolution, glycoproteomics provides actionable insights that accelerate diagnostics, therapeutic development, and precision medicine.
Users of the BioBeyond_NL infrastructure will gain access to advanced technology to study glycoproteomics, based in 3 centers: Netherlands Proteomics Center (UU), the Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics (LUMC) and Radboud UMC. Each center brings its own area of expertise, and based on your research project, you will be matched with the BioBeyond_NL infrastructure best suited to your needs.
ACCESS TO UTRECHT UNIVERSITY: ADVANCED FRAGMENTATION TECHNOLOGIES (NPC)
The Netherlands Proteomics Center (NPC) is hosted by the Biomolecular Mass Spectromety and Proteomics group at Utrecht University. Our expertise lay in identification, quantification and profiling of antibodies, including native MS and de novo sequencing.
The NPC provides access to the most advanced mass spectrometry technology for optimal fragmentation and acquisition. User will get access to instruments including Orbitrao MS (Thermo Eclipse, Fusion and Exploris), 2 UHMR for high mass analysis & CDMS, time-of-flight mass spectrometry (2 Bruker TimsTOF, one timsOmni, two ZenoTOFs). Together, these instruments cover the full spectrum of needs from high throughput proteome analysis to lower throughput structural proteomics experiments, as well as targeted MS-based approaches, and data independent acquisition (DIA).
The NPC is furthermore equipped with extensive laboratory premises to allow state-of-the-art fractionation and multidimensional chromatography. This allows the user to enrich for their protein, peptide or glycan of choice, increasing sensitivity and specificity of the experiment for optimal depth of analysis.
ACCESS TO LEIDEN UMC: O-GLYCOPROTEOMICS AND TISSUES (CPM)
The Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics (CPM) at the LUMC hosts advanced mass spectrometry (MS) platforms with specialized workflows that enable deep, quantitative, and structurally resolved analysis of glycans and glycoproteins. CPM houses multiple high‑resolution Orbitrap and TOF instruments, dedicated glycopeptide‑optimized LC–MS systems, and ion‑mobility capabilities for resolving complex glycan isomers. These instruments are supported by automated sample‑handling robotics, high‑sensitivity nano‑LC setups, and tailored enrichment strategies for glycopeptides, released glycans, and intact glycoproteins.
Beyond the LC-MS infrastructure, CPM offers a full suite of spatial omics technologies, including MALDI imaging for mapping glycans, lipids, and metabolites directly in tissues, complemented by histology and emerging integration with spatial transcriptomics and mass cytometry imaging. Advanced computational pipelines and emerging AI‑supported data mining allow researchers to interpret large multi‑omics datasets and discover new glycan structures and interaction networks.
ACCESS TO RADBOUD UMC: N-GLYCOPROTEOMICS, SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT, BODY FLUID APPLICATIONS
Contact us here for your access inquiries.