Advances in MS-based glycomics for biomedical research.

Journal: Analytical methods : advancing methods and applications
Published Date: Jan 22, 2026

Abstract

Glycosylation is a highly complex and functionally diverse post-translational modification that modulates protein folding, stability, cell signaling, and immune response. Aberrant glycosylation is associated with numerous diseases, including cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and infections, making glycans attractive targets for biomarker discovery and therapeutic development. Mass spectrometry (MS) has become a widely used analytical tool, for glycomics analysis due to its high sensitivity, specificity, and structural resolution. This review highlights advances in MS-based glycomics, encompassing sample preparation, ionization techniques, and fragmentation strategies. Quantitative strategies, including stable isotope labeling, isobaric tagging, and label-free approaches, are also examined for their roles in precise glycan quantification. The review also explores bioinformatics tools and the growing integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning for glycan structure prediction and data interpretation.

Authors

  • Joy Solomon
    Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, TX 79409-1061, USA. [email protected].
  • Akeem Sanni
    Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, TX 79409-1061, USA. [email protected].
  • Waziha Purba
    Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, TX 79409-1061, USA. [email protected].
  • Odunayo Oluokun
    Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, TX 79409-1061, USA. [email protected].
  • Sarah Sahioun
    Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, USA.
  • Mojibola Fowowe
    Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, TX 79409-1061, USA. [email protected].
  • Ayobami Oluokun
    Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, TX 79409-1061, USA. [email protected].
  • Ahmed Hussein
    Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Department, Faculty of Medicine Ain Shams University Cairo Egypt.
  • Yehia Mechref
    Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, United States.

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