Examining galectin binding specificity using glycan microarrays

Abstract

Glycan binding proteins (GBPs) possess the unique ability to regulate a wide variety of biological processes through interactions with highly modifiable cell surface glycans. While many studies demonstrate the impact of glycan modification on GBP recognition and activity, the relative contribution of subtle changes in glycan structure on GBP binding can be difficult to define. To overcome limitations in the analysis of GBP-glycan interactions, recent studies utilized glycan microarray platforms containing hundreds of structurally defined glycans. These studies not only provided important information regarding GBP–glycan interactions, but have also resulted in significant insight into the binding specificity and biological activity of the galectin family. We will describe the methods used when employing glycan microarray platforms to examine galectin–glycan binding specificity and function.