Lectin Microarrays

Our lab developed lectin microarrays for rapid analysis of the glycome (1-3). These microarrays utilize immobilized carbohydrate-binding proteins at high spatial density to give specific information on the repertoire of glycans present, e.g., high mannose epitopes, branching patterns, and terminal α-2,3- or α-2,6-sialic acids, in a high-throughput format. We directly mimic how nature recognizes glycans with the use of lectin probes, i.e., via 3-5 glycan binding epitopes, and gain discrete structural information on glycan linkages.

Quick Reference

Benefits of Using Lectin Microarrays

Unlike other glycomic methodologies, lectin microarrays:

Our unique dual-color methodology allows for more accurate semi-quantitative analysis of the glycome. We print our own lectin microarrays, which include >90 plant lectins, recombinant lectins, and selected antibodies (4, 5). The discrete specificities of our probes are well characterized and many of them have been analyzed using the Consortium for Functional Glycomics glycan microarray (6).

Annotations of Lectin Binding Specificities

Glycomic Technology: Timeline of Development

  1. Pilobello, K.T.; Krishnamoorthy, L.; Slawek, D.; Mahal, L.K. Development of a lectin microarray for the rapid analysis of protein glycopatterns. ChemBioChem, 2005, 6, 985-989. doi: 10.1002/cbic.200400403
  2. Pilobello, K.T.; Slawek, D.; Mahal, L.K. A ratiometric lectin microarray approach to analysis of the dynamic mammalian glycome, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA, 2007, 104, 10534-10539. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0704954104
  3. Pilobello, K.T; Agrawal, P.; Rouse, R.; Mahal, L.K. Advances in lectin microarray technology: Optimized protocols for piezoelectric print conditions. Curr. Prot. Chem. Biol., 2013, 5, 1-23. doi: 10.1002/9780470559277.ch120035
  4. Hsu, K.-L.; Gildersleeve, J.C.; Mahal, L.K. A simple strategy for the creation of a recombinant lectin microarray, Mol. BioSystems, 2008, 4, 654-662. doi: 10.1039/b800725j
  5. Ribeiro, J.P.; Pau, W.K.; Pifferi, C.; Renaudet, O; Varrot, A; Mahal, L.K. ‡; Imberty, A. ‡ Characterization of a high-affinity sialic acid specific CBM40 from Clostridium perfringens and engineering of a divalent form. Biochem. J., 2016, 473, 2109-18. doi: 10.1042/BCJ20160340. ‡ Co-corresponding authors.
  6. Wang, L.; Cummings, R.D.; Smith, D.F.; Huflejt, M.; Campbell, C.T.; Gildersleeve, J.D.; Gerlach, J.Q.; Kilcoyne, M.; Joshi, L.; Serna, S.; Reichardt, N.-C.; Pera, N.P.; Pieters, R.; Eng, W.S.; Mahal, L.K. Cross-platform comparison of glycan microarray formats. Glycobiology, 2014, 24, 507-517. doi: 10.1093/glycob/cwu019
  7. Propheter, D.C.; Hsu, K.-L.; Mahal, L.K. Fabrication of an oriented lectin microarray, ChemBioChem, 2010, 11, 1203-1207. doi: 10.1002/cbic.201000106
  8. Propheter, D.C.; Hsu, K.-L.; Mahal, L.K. Recombinant lectin microarrays for glycomic analysis. Methods Mol. Biol., 2011, 723, 67-77. doi: 10.1007/978-1-61779-043-0_6
  9. Propheter, D.C.; Mahal, L.K. Orientation of GST-tagged lectins via in situ surface modification to create an expanded lectin microarray for glycomic analysis. Mol. Biosystems, 2011, 7, 2114-7. doi: 10.1039/c1mb05047h
  10. Grant, O.C.; Tessier, M.B.; Meche, L.; Mahal, L.K.; Foley, B.L.; Woods, R.J. Combining 3D structure with glycan array data provides insight into the origin of glycan specificity. Glycobiology, 2016, 26, 772-83. doi: 10.1093/glycob/cww020
  11. Bojar, D.; Meche, L.; Meng, G.; Eng, W.; Smith, D.F.; Cummings, R.D.; Mahal, L.K. A useful guide to lectin binding: Machine-learning directed annotation of 57 unique lectin specificities. ACS Chemical Biology2022in Press. Formerly: bioRixv, doi: 10.1101/2021.08.31.458439

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F.A.Q.

What is the Canada Excellence Research Chair?

The Canada Excellence Research Chairs (CERC) Program awards universities up to $10 million over seven years to support world‑renowned researchers and their teams to establish ambitious research programs at Canadian universities.

Where is the University of Alberta?

Located in beautiful Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, the Chemistry Department at the UofA is renown for its active research. It is one of the best equipped and well funded departments in Canada.

What is lectin microarray technology?

It is a glycomic technology developed in the Mahal Lab, provide a rapid analysis of the glycome (1-3). These microarrays utilize immobilized carbohydrate-binding proteins at high spatial density to give specific information on the repertoire of glycans present.

Why study microRNA regulation of glycosylation?

miRNA can be used to identify glycosylation enzymes and their corresponding glycans that drive disease states.

How do I apply for grad school?

At the UofA, you do not have to find a supervisor in order to apply. The department has a process in place for students to find a supervisor and join a research group once they arrive to start their program. However, it is recommended for applicants to contact chemistry faculty members whose areas of research are of interest to you. Information about requirements and how to apply can be found here.

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