Elizabeth F. Hounsell – författare

As the editorof Glycoprotein Analysis in BiornedidneI have tried to bring together a comprehensive range ofdetailed protocols that will rendercarbohydratebiochemistryaccessible to all, andnotjust to the dedicated few. I wish to thank the authors, all ofwhom have striven significantly to realize this aim. There is now a growing interest in glycoprotein analysis from researchers in many disciplineswho realize thatprotein glycosylation can no longer be ignored. Oligosaccharide chains of glycoproteins form a diverse arrayofmolecules with an inherentlylarge contentof chemical information that is functional in biological recognition. In addition to theirspecificinteractionswithantibodiesandcarbohydrate binding proteins, the carbohydrate moieties of glycoproteins have profoundly important effects on the conformations, stability, antige- nicity, and function ofthe protein components. Some specialized techniques, Le., NMRand MS, are introduced atthebeginningofthebooksince thesearecapableofdefiningexactly the diversityofoligosaccharide sequences,and are used to detect the growing number ofnew structures as well as to indentiry, in new sce- narios, those previously documented.Together with the chromato- graphic methods of purification and analysis discussed in Chapters 1-12, there now exists a powerful armamentarium for glycoprotein characterization. The more chemical techniques are documented in detail in the earliest chapters, whereas the enzymatic methods of releasing oligosaccharidesfrom protein areintroducedlater. Analysis ofglycoproteinsfrom mammalian, parasitic,bacterial,andviralorigins are each discussed.

Protein glycosylation is now acknowledged as a major posttranslational modification with significant effects on protein folding, conformation distri- bution, stability, and activity. The added oligosaccharide chains are large and diverse and have specific recognition motifs important in many aspects of cell interactions and regulation. As such, there is a growing need to communicate the analytical methods of the specialist carbohydrate chemist, biochemist, and physicochemist to protein experts and the pharmaceutical industry. Other areas that come under the influence of the glycosciences are DNA interactions with ubiquitous saccharide-containing antibiotics and antitumor drugs; inhibitors of viral infection; bacterial, mycobacterial, and parasite antigens; glycolipids; glycophosphatidylinositol protein membrane anchors; and (glyco)protein- proteoglycan interactions. Compared to the first edition of this book, Glycopro- tein Analysis in Biomedicine, less emphasis is given to biomedical aspects, but these chapters are still pertinent today.The significant differences in the con- tent relate to advances in analysis relevant to biotechnology; for example, the production of recombinant glycoproteins and other therapeutics. It must also not be forgotten that the methods here described in Glycoanalysis Protocols are relevant to exploiting the commercial potential of carbohydrates in fields related to agriculture, food, and the domestic and chemical industries. The emphasis of the book remains in bringing the glycosciences into mainstream biochemistry. The analytical methods covered in Glycoanalysis Protocols are the re- sult of experts translating their life's works into easy-to-follow recipes.