glyBranch

glyBranch identifies glycan branching patterns from multi-stage mass spectrometry (MSⁿ) spectra trees to enable structural characterization of glycans.

Key Features:

• Multi-stage MS support: Leverages multi-stage mass spectrometry (MSⁿ) to access multiple levels of fragmentation beyond tandem mass spectrometry (MS²).
• MSⁿ spectra tree analysis: Interprets MSⁿ spectra trees that represent production relationships among fragments.
• Automated branching identification: Automates the identification of glycan branching patterns from MSⁿ data.
• Validation on standards and samples: Demonstrated on 14 glycan standards (including two isomeric pairs) and 16 complex N-glycans isolated from RNase B and IgG.
• Isomer resolution: Capable of distinguishing isomeric glycan sequences using MSⁿ fragmentation information.

Scientific Applications:

• Glycan structural characterization: Identification and structural characterization of glycan branching patterns from MSⁿ data.
• N-glycan analysis from glycoproteins: Structural analysis of complex N-glycans isolated from RNase B and IgG.
• Isomer differentiation: Differentiation of isomeric glycan sequences in MSⁿ datasets.

Methodology:

Analyzes MSⁿ spectra trees that represent fragment production relationships to infer glycan branching patterns and was applied to 14 glycan standards (two isomeric pairs) and 16 complex N-glycans from RNase B and IgG.