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Ahuja P, Singh M, Ujjain SK. Advancements in Electrochemical Biosensors for Comprehensive Glycosylation Assessment of Biotherapeutics. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2025; 25:2064. [PMID: 40218579 PMCID: PMC11991509 DOI: 10.3390/s25072064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2024] [Revised: 03/20/2025] [Accepted: 03/23/2025] [Indexed: 04/14/2025]
Abstract
Proteins represent a significant portion of the global therapeutics market, surpassing hundreds of billions of dollars annually. Among the various post-translational modifications, glycosylation plays a crucial role in influencing protein structure, stability, and function. This modification is especially important in biotherapeutics, where the precise characterization of glycans is vital for ensuring product efficacy and safety. Although mass spectrometry-based techniques have become essential tools for glycomic analysis due to their high sensitivity and resolution, their complexity and lengthy processing times limit their practical application. In contrast, electrochemical methods provide a rapid, cost-effective, and sensitive alternative for glycosylation assessment, enabling the real-time analysis of glycan structures on biotherapeutic proteins. These electrochemical techniques, often used in conjunction with complementary methods, offer valuable insights into the glycosylation profiles of both isolated glycoproteins and intact cells. This review examines the latest advancements in electrochemical biosensors for glycosylation analysis, highlighting their potential in enhancing the characterization of biotherapeutics and advancing the field of precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Preety Ahuja
- Department of Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA;
| | - Manpreet Singh
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA;
| | - Sanjeev Kumar Ujjain
- Department of Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA;
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Dosekova E, Filip J, Bertok T, Both P, Kasak P, Tkac J. Nanotechnology in Glycomics: Applications in Diagnostics, Therapy, Imaging, and Separation Processes. Med Res Rev 2017; 37:514-626. [PMID: 27859448 PMCID: PMC5659385 DOI: 10.1002/med.21420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2016] [Revised: 09/08/2016] [Accepted: 09/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
This review comprehensively covers the most recent achievements (from 2013) in the successful integration of nanomaterials in the field of glycomics. The first part of the paper addresses the beneficial properties of nanomaterials for the construction of biosensors, bioanalytical devices, and protocols for the detection of various analytes, including viruses and whole cells, together with their key characteristics. The second part of the review focuses on the application of nanomaterials integrated with glycans for various biomedical applications, that is, vaccines against viral and bacterial infections and cancer cells, as therapeutic agents, for in vivo imaging and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging, and for selective drug delivery. The final part of the review describes various ways in which glycan enrichment can be effectively done using nanomaterials, molecularly imprinted polymers with polymer thickness controlled at the nanoscale, with a subsequent analysis of glycans by mass spectrometry. A short section describing an active glycoprofiling by microengines (microrockets) is covered as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Dosekova
- Department of Glycobiotechnology, Institute of ChemistrySlovak Academy of SciencesDubravska cesta 9845 38BratislavaSlovakia
| | - Jaroslav Filip
- Center for Advanced MaterialsQatar UniversityP.O. Box 2713DohaQatar
| | - Tomas Bertok
- Department of Glycobiotechnology, Institute of ChemistrySlovak Academy of SciencesDubravska cesta 9845 38BratislavaSlovakia
| | - Peter Both
- School of Chemistry, Manchester Institute of BiotechnologyThe University of Manchester131 Princess StreetManchesterM1 7DNUK
| | - Peter Kasak
- Center for Advanced MaterialsQatar UniversityP.O. Box 2713DohaQatar
| | - Jan Tkac
- Department of Glycobiotechnology, Institute of ChemistrySlovak Academy of SciencesDubravska cesta 9845 38BratislavaSlovakia
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Hussein HAM, Walker LR, Abdel-Raouf UM, Desouky SA, Montasser AKM, Akula SM. Beyond RGD: virus interactions with integrins. Arch Virol 2015; 160:2669-81. [PMID: 26321473 PMCID: PMC7086847 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-015-2579-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2015] [Accepted: 08/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Viruses successfully infect host cells by initially binding to the surfaces of the cells, followed by an intricate entry process. As multifunctional heterodimeric cell-surface receptor molecules, integrins have been shown to usefully serve as entry receptors for a plethora of viruses. However, the exact role(s) of integrins in viral pathogen internalization has yet to be elaborately described. Notably, several viruses harbor integrin-recognition motifs displayed on viral envelope/capsid-associated proteins. The most common of these motifs is the minimal peptide sequence for binding integrins, RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp), which is known for its role in virus infection via its ability to interact with over half of the more than 20 known integrins. Not all virus-integrin interactions are RGD-dependent, however. Non-RGD-binding integrins have also been shown to effectively promote virus entry and infection as well. Such virus-integrin binding is shown to facilitate adhesion, cytoskeleton rearrangement, integrin activation, and increased intracellular signaling. Also, we have attempted to discuss the role of carbohydrate moieties in virus interactions with receptor-like host cell surface integrins that drive the process of internalization. As much as possible, this article examines the published literature regarding the role of integrins in terms of virus infection and virus-encoded glycosylated proteins that mediate interactions with integrins, and it explores the idea of targeting these receptors as a therapeutic treatment option.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hosni A M Hussein
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, 27834, USA
| | - Lia R Walker
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, 27834, USA
| | - Usama M Abdel-Raouf
- Faculty of Science, Al Azhar University, Assiut Branch, Assiut, 71524, Egypt
| | - Sayed A Desouky
- Faculty of Science, Al Azhar University, Assiut Branch, Assiut, 71524, Egypt
| | | | - Shaw M Akula
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, 27834, USA.
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Nahalka J, Hrabarova E, Talafova K. Protein-RNA and protein-glycan recognitions in light of amino acid codes. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2015; 1850:1942-52. [PMID: 26145579 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2015.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2015] [Revised: 06/18/2015] [Accepted: 06/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND RNA-binding proteins, in cooperation with non-coding RNAs, play important roles in post-transcriptional regulation. Non-coding micro-RNAs control information flow from the genome to the glycome by interacting with glycan-synthesis enzymes. Glycan-binding proteins read the cell surface and cytoplasmic glycome and transfer signals back to the nucleus. The profiling of the protein-RNA and protein-glycan interactomes is of significant medicinal importance. SCOPE OF REVIEW This review discusses the state-of-the-art research in the protein-RNA and protein-glycan recognition fields and proposes the application of amino acid codes in profiling and programming the interactomes. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS The deciphered PUF-RNA and PPR-RNA amino acid recognition codes can be explained by the protein-RNA amino acid recognition hypothesis based on the genetic code. The tripartite amino acid code is also involved in protein-glycan interactions. At present, the results indicate that a system of four codons ("gnc", where n=g - guanine, c - cytosine, u - uracil or a - adenine) and four amino acids (G - glycine, A - alanine, V - valine, D - aspartic acid) could be the original genetic code that imprinted "rules" into both recognition processes. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE Amino acid recognition codes have provocative potential in the profiling and programming of the protein-RNA and protein-glycan interactomes. The profiling and even programming of the interactomes will play significant roles in diagnostics and the development of therapeutic procedures against cancer and neurodegenerative, developmental and other diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jozef Nahalka
- Institute of Chemistry, Centre for Glycomics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, SK-84538 Bratislava, Slovak Republic; Institute of Chemistry, Centre of Excellence for White-green Biotechnology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Trieda Andreja Hlinku 2, SK-94976 Nitra, Slovak Republic.
| | - Eva Hrabarova
- Institute of Chemistry, Centre for Glycomics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, SK-84538 Bratislava, Slovak Republic; Institute of Chemistry, Centre of Excellence for White-green Biotechnology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Trieda Andreja Hlinku 2, SK-94976 Nitra, Slovak Republic
| | - Klaudia Talafova
- Institute of Chemistry, Centre for Glycomics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, SK-84538 Bratislava, Slovak Republic; Institute of Chemistry, Centre of Excellence for White-green Biotechnology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Trieda Andreja Hlinku 2, SK-94976 Nitra, Slovak Republic
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Srinivasan K, Roy S, Washburn N, Sipsey SF, Meccariello R, Meador JW, Ling LE, Manning AM, Kaundinya GV. A Quantitative Microtiter Assay for Sialylated Glycoform Analyses Using Lectin Complexes. JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR SCREENING 2015; 20:768-78. [PMID: 25851037 PMCID: PMC4512520 DOI: 10.1177/1087057115577597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2014] [Revised: 02/20/2015] [Accepted: 02/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Fidelity of glycan structures is a key requirement for biotherapeutics, with carbohydrates playing an important role for therapeutic efficacy. Comprehensive glycan profiling techniques such as liquid chromatography (LC) and mass spectrometry (MS), while providing detailed description of glycan structures, require glycan cleavage, labeling, and paradigms to deconvolute the considerable data sets they generate. On the other hand, lectins as probes on microarrays have recently been used in orthogonal approaches for in situ glycoprofiling but require analyte labeling to take advantage of the capabilities of automated microarray readers and data analysis they afford. Herein, we describe a lectin-based microtiter assay (lectin-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]) to quantify terminal glycan moieties, applicable to in vitro and in-cell glycan-engineered Fc proteins as well as intact IgGs from intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), a blood product containing pooled polyvalent IgG antibodies extracted from plasma from healthy human donors. We corroborate our findings with industry-standard LC-MS profiling. This "customizable" ELISA juxtaposes readouts from multiple lectins, focusing on a subset of glycoforms, and provides the ability to discern single- versus dual-arm glycosylation while defining levels of epitopes at sensitivities comparable to MS. Extendable to other biologics, this ELISA can be used stand-alone or complementary to MS for quantitative glycan analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Leona E Ling
- Momenta Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
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Hushegyi A, Bertok T, Damborsky P, Katrlik J, Tkac J. An ultrasensitive impedimetric glycan biosensor with controlled glycan density for detection of lectins and influenza hemagglutinins. Chem Commun (Camb) 2015; 51:7474-7. [PMID: 25828081 PMCID: PMC4883646 DOI: 10.1039/c5cc00922g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
An impedimetric glycan biosensor with optimised glycan density was applied for the detection of lectins and influenza hemagglutinins down to attomolar concentrations (aM).
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Affiliation(s)
- A Hushegyi
- Department of Glycobiotechnology, Institute of Chemistry, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, 845 38 Bratislava, Slovakia.
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Abstract
Glycans are chains of carbohydrates attached to proteins (glycoproteins and proteoglycans) or lipids (glycolipids). Glycosylation is a posttranslational modification and glycans have a wide range of functions in a human body including involvement in oncological diseases. Change in a glycan structure cannot only indicate presence of a pathological process, but more importantly in some cases also its stage. Thus, a glycan analysis has a potential to be an effective and reliable tool in cancer diagnostics. Lectins are proteins responsible for natural biorecognition of glycans, even carbohydrate moieties still attached to proteins or whole cells can be recognized by lectins, what makes them an ideal candidate for designing label-free biosensors for glycan analysis. In this review we would like to summarize evidence that glycoprofiling of biomarkers by lectin-based biosensors can be really helpful in detecting prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Štefan Belický
- Department of Glycobiotechnology, Center for Glycomics, Institute of Chemistry, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, Bratislava, SK - 845 38, Slovakia
| | - Jan Tkac
- Department of Glycobiotechnology, Center for Glycomics, Institute of Chemistry, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, Bratislava, SK - 845 38, Slovakia
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Pihíková D, Kasák P, Tkac J. Glycoprofiling of cancer biomarkers: Label-free electrochemical lectin-based biosensors. OPEN CHEM 2015; 13:636-655. [PMID: 27275016 PMCID: PMC4892350 DOI: 10.1515/chem-2015-0082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Glycosylation of biomolecules is one of the most prevalent post- and co-translational modification in a human body, with more than half of all human proteins being glycosylated. Malignant transformation of cells influences glycosylation machinery resulting in subtle changes of the glycosylation pattern within the cell populations as a result of cancer. Thus, an altered terminal glycan motif on glycoproteins could provide a warning signal about disease development and progression and could be applied as a reliable biomarker in cancer diagnostics. Among all highly effective glycoprofiling tools, label-free electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS)-based biosensors have emerged as especially suitable tool for point-of-care early-stage cancer detection. Herein, we highlight the current challenges in glycoprofiling of various cancer biomarkers by ultrasensitive impedimetric-based biosensors with low sample consumption, low cost fabrication and simple miniaturization. Additionally, this review provides a short introduction to the field of glycomics and lectinomics and gives a brief overview of glycan alterations in different types of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominika Pihíková
- Department of Glycobiotechnology, Institute of Chemistry, Slovak
Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, SK-845 38 Bratislava,
Slovakia
| | - Peter Kasák
- Center for Advanced Materials, Qatar University, P.O.Box 2713 Doha,
Qatar
| | - Jan Tkac
- Department of Glycobiotechnology, Institute of Chemistry, Slovak
Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, SK-845 38 Bratislava,
Slovakia
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