Glycoproteomics collaboration

Australian Proteome Analysis Facility (APAF), Macquarie University and Agilent Technologies Australia have announced a joint research collaboration in the field of glycoproteomics, to be led by Professor Nicolle Packer.

The project valued at over A$100,000 draws funding from Agilent Technologies and Macquarie University.

The project will use liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) to generate fragmentation data of glycoprotein glycans. The data will then be used to enhance the GlycoSuite database - a publicly accessible curated repository of glycan structures (www. glycosuitedb.expasy.org).

APAF and Agilent both recognise the functional importance of the glycan (carbohydrate) structures attached to proteins and this collaboration will extend the knowledge base for probing the role of glycans in diverse research fields such as infectious diseases, cancer and metabolic disorders. Characterising glycans is seen as an important next step in biomedical science following on the heels of genome sequencing and proteome characterisation projects.

“The collaboration with Agilent will further enhance APAF’s capabilities to offer glycan analytical services to the biotech industry for the characterisation of recombinant glycoproteins which are emerging as important new drug therapies,” said Associate Professor Mark Molloy, APAF Director.

“Glycan research is a key in expanding our understanding of a wide range of diseases. It is exciting to have established a collaboration with Macquarie University to work in this area of research,” said David Tunks, Life Science Business Manager, Agilent Technologies.