Lectin microarrays: Simple tools for the analysis of complex glycans

The emerging roles for post-translational modifications in the regulation of cellular function have turned the spotlight on glycosylation. Given the prevalence of protein and lipid glycosylation, it has become imperative to create and utilize new tools to study these critical biopolymers. In particular, there has been an emphasis on the development of high-throughput methodologies to study the structural and functional aspects of glycan-protein interactions. The use of carbohydrate binding proteins (i.e. lectins) in a microarray format has greatly enhanced our ability to de-convolute the structural aspects of the glycome. This simple and unique technology provides a rapid method for glycomic analysis, which opens up the field of glycobiology to more systems-based approaches towards function.