Glycoconnjugates
Glycoconjugates (glycoproteins, glykolipids and free glycans) are key players in many biological processes. Due to their ubiquitous presence in tissues and cells and their unique structural features making them “information-rich” molecules glycans play pivotal roles in processes such as cell-cell interaction and control of correct protein folding. Dysregulated glycosylation is frequently associated with many diseases. The onset of almost every infection is characterized by the interaction of pathogenicity factors (viruses, bacteria, or bacterial toxins) with carbohydrate structures presented on the surface of the host cells. 

Consequently, detailed knowledge of structural aspects of very complex glycan molecules is a substantial prerequisite for a deeper understanding of my biological processes.

We focus on the development of methodologies aiming at qualitative and quantitative analysis of glycoconjugates and their application to current biomedical questions and issues. 

These scientific projects involve sensitive mass spectrometric, immunochemical and chromatographic techniques. Currently we employ a quadrupole time-of-flight hybid mass spectrometer capable of separating gaseous analyte ions by ion mobility.