Exosomal Glycosylation Analysis Services

Q: Q1: What types of samples do you accept for exosomal glycosylation analysis, and how should samples be stored to maintain quality?

A: We accept samples including blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), cell culture supernatant, tissue homogenate, and urine. Samples must be stored at -80°C to avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles, and transported with dry ice to preserve exosome integrity and glycosylation structures.

Q: Q2: Which types of exosomal glycosylation modifications can your service detect? Do you support targeted analysis of specific glycoforms?

A: We detect both N-linked glycans (released via PNGase F) and O-linked glycans (released via O-glycanase), covering common modifications like sialylation, fucosylation, and galactosylation. Targeted analysis (e.g., α2,3-sialylation or core fucosylation) is supported. Please communicate your research focus in advance.

Q: Q3: What is the turnaround time for a standard exosomal glycosylation project (e.g., 10 samples)? Is expedited service available?

A: Standard projects (≤20 samples) take 3-4 weeks. Expedited service is offered: with qualified samples and clear requirements, timelines can be shortened to 1–2 weeks, subject to negotiation based on sample volume and detection scope.

Q: Q4: What does the final data analysis report include? Do you provide post-report data interpretation support?

A: The report includes raw mass spectrometry data, glycan structure annotation tables, differential glycosylation screening results (vs. control groups), and functional analysis (e.g., pathway enrichment, cell/tissue origin correlation). Free post-report technical consultation is provided to help link results to your research goals.

Q: Q5: How do you ensure the service can distinguish structurally similar glycosylation isomers (e.g., α2,3- vs. α2,6-sialylation)?

A: We use high-resolution LC-MS/MS (e.g., QE-HF mass spectrometer) combined with exclusive chromatographic separation protocols for accurate isomer differentiation. Additionally, we validate with standard glycans (e.g., known sialylated glycan structures) to ensure >99% accuracy in isomer identification.

Q: Q6: How does this service support the screening of exosomal glycosylation biomarkers in cancer research?

A: By comparing exosomal glycoform differences between cancer patients and healthy controls, we screen specific glycosylation biomarkers (e.g., abnormal fucosylation in colorectal cancer). We also provide quantitative validation of differential glycoforms and upstream/downstream pathway analysis to support early diagnosis or treatment response monitoring.

Exosomes, as pivotal messengers in intercellular communication, carry a diverse array of glycoproteins that serve as sophisticated molecular codes for cell recognition and immune regulation. Creative Biostructure offers a specialized exosomal glycosylation analysis service to illuminate this hidden layer of biological information. Leveraging advanced lectin microarrays and mass spectrometry technologies, our service provides precise mapping of glycan structures and glycosylation sites, empowering clients to decipher disease-specific glycocodes and accelerate biomarker discovery.

Why is Exosome Glycosylation Analysis Important?

Exosomal glycosylation analysis decodes the biological information embedded in the sugar coats (glycans) attached to exosomal surfaces. These glycans act as specialized "identity cards" and "navigation systems," directly determining how exosomes are recognized, captured, and internalized by recipient cells. This process fundamentally regulates intercellular communication and immune responses.

The profound significance of this analysis lies in three key areas:

Uncovering Disease Mechanisms & Biomarkers

Profiling disease-specific "glycosignatures" on exosomes through liquid biopsies enables the discovery of highly sensitive biomarkers for applications including early diagnosis, patient stratification, and disease monitoring.

Enabling Targeted Therapeutic Strategies

Understanding exosomal glycosylation opens the door to engineering next-generation delivery systems. By modifying surface glycans, we can design "smart" exosomes that precisely target specific tissues or cells, vastly improving the efficacy and reducing the side effects of therapeutic cargo delivery.

Revealing Fundamental Biology

This analysis provides critical insights into the fundamental biological functions of exosomes themselves, helping to answer why certain exosomes are selectively taken up by particular cell types and how they ultimately influence cell fate.

In essence, analyzing exosomal glycosylation is not just about mapping sugar structures; it's about accessing a rich layer of functional information that drives both physiological processes and pathological states, holding immense potential for revolutionizing diagnostics and therapeutics.

Exosomal glycosylation profiles as disease biomarkers. Figure 1. Glycosylation profile of exosomes can serve as biomarkers of disease states. (Lin S, et al., 2020)

Our Exosomal Glycosylation Analysis Service

Beginning with rigorous exosome isolation and purification from your provided samples (e.g., cell culture supernatant, blood plasma), we ensure the integrity of the native glycan structures. Our integrated technology platform then employs advanced techniques, including lectin microarray for high-throughput glycan profiling and high-sensitivity mass spectrometry for precise structural characterization and site-specific mapping of glycosylation.

The power of our service lies in the depth of our bioinformatics analysis. We deliver more than just raw data; we provide a biologically interpreted report that includes:

Comprehensive Glycan Profiling	Identification and relative quantification of N-linked and O-linked glycans.
Glycosite Mapping	Precise localization of glycosylation sites on carrier proteins.
Comparative Analysis	Uncovering disease-specific or treatment-induced alterations in glycosylation patterns.
Functional Interpretation	Linking glycan signatures to potential biological functions and pathways.

Workflow of Exosomal Glycosylation Analysis Service

Our service follows a rigorous, multi-stage workflow to ensure precise and comprehensive characterization of exosomal surface glycosylation:

1

Sample Receipt & Quality Control

We begin by accepting your submitted samples (e.g., cell culture supernatant, blood plasma, or serum). The received samples undergo immediate quality control, where we validate exosome presence and integrity using Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA) for concentration/size distribution and Western Blot for specific exosomal marker detection.

2

Exosome Isolation & Purification

We employ advanced isolation techniques tailored to your sample type, including ultracentrifugation, size-exclusion chromatography, or immunoaffinity capture, to ensure high-purity exosome recovery. The purified exosomes are subsequently validated for purity and protein content prior to glycan analysis.

3

Glycan Release & Labeling

Glycans are enzymatically or chemically released from the exosomal surface proteins and lipids. The released glycans are then purified and fluorescently labeled, enabling highly sensitive detection and quantification in subsequent analytical steps.

4

Glycan Profiling & Structural Analysis

We employ an integrated analytical approach:
- Lectin Microarray: For high-throughput screening of glycan-binding patterns and initial glycan fingerprinting.
- Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS): For in-depth structural characterization, including identification of glycan compositions, linkages, and branching patterns, as well as site-specific mapping of glycosylation.

5

Bioinformatics & Data Interpretation

The raw data undergoes advanced bioinformatics processing for:
- Glycan Structural Identification & Quantification
- Comparative Glycoprofiling to identify significant alterations between sample groups
- Functional Annotation linking glycan changes to biological pathways and potential biomarker associations

Service workflow for exosomal glycosylation analysis. Figure 2. Exosomal glycosylation analysis service workflow. (Creative Biostructure)

Technical Advantages of Our Exosomal Glycosylation Analysis Service

High Specificity: Distinguishes isomeric glycan structures (e.g., α2,3- vs. α2,6-sialylation) via high-resolution LC-MS/MS.
Ultra-Sensitivity: Detects low-abundance glycosylation (down to pg level) to capture rare but biologically significant changes.
Reproducibility: Standardized protocols and quality control (QC) samples (e.g., reference exosomes) ensure intra- and inter-batch CV < 10%.
Customization: Supports personalized detection strategies (e.g., focused analysis of specific glycosylation types) and data delivery formats

Case Study

Case: Comprehensive Overview the Role of Glycosylation of Extracellular Vesicles in Cancers

Background

Colorectal cancer (CRC) represents a significant global health challenge and burden. This study profiles the aberrant glycosylation patterns on the surface of CRC cell-derived exosomes and proposes them as potential biomarkers for tumor characterization.

Methods

The interactions of 27 lectins with exosomes from three CRC cell lines (SW480, SW620, HCT116) and one normal colon epithelial cell line (NCM460) have been analyzed by the lectin microarray.
The expression of glycosylation related genes within cells has been analyzed by high-throughput quantitative polymerase chain reaction (HT-qPCR).

Analysis of exosomal glycans using lectin microarrays. Figure 3. Glycan profiling of exosomes based on lectin microarrays. (Sun X, et al., 2024)

Conclusion

The results reveal that glycan expression pattern of exosome is linked to specific CRC subtypes, and regulated by glycosyltransferase and glycosidase genes of mother cells. The findings illuminate the potential of glycosylation molecules on the surface of exosomes as reliable biomarkers for diagnosis of tumor at early stage and monitoring of cancer progression.

Creative Biostructure leverages its integrated technology platform and specialized analytical team to provide clients with an end-to-end solution spanning from glycan structural analysis to functional interpretation. Whether exploring disease mechanisms, discovering novel biomarkers, or developing targeted delivery systems, we deliver robust data support and technical assurance. Contact us to discuss and obtain detailed technical proposals and consulting services tailored to your specific research needs.

References

Lin S, Zhou S, Yuan T. The "sugar‐coated bullets" of cancer: Tumor‐derived exosome surface glycosylation from basic knowledge to applications. Clinical and Translational Medicine. 2020, 10(6): e204.
Sun X, Chen B, Shan Y, et al. Lectin microarray-based glycan profiling of exosomes for dynamic monitoring of colorectal cancer progression. Analytica Chimica Acta. 2024, 1316: 342819.

Frequently Asked Questions

For any inquiries, our support team is ready to help you get technical support for your research and maximize your experience with Creative Biostructure.

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