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Glycobiology Research & Training Center GRTC
  1. Glycobiology Research & Training Center
  2. Services
  3. GlycoAnalytics Core
  4. Instruments

Instruments & Technology

The GlycoAnalytics Core is a fully equipped laboratory facility with specialized equipment for glycan analysis.

Thermo Scientific Dionex Ion Chromatography (IC) System HPAEC-PAD/UV/FL Detector

Equipped with an electrochemical, UV, and fluorescence detector; dual gradient pump; and AS50 autosampler. It is used for the composition analysis of monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides. The instrument is also capable of sulfate and phosphate analysis using the IonPac column and conductivity detector. Oligosaccharides in limited quantity can also be purified using an online desalter for collection of appropriate fractions.

Agilent Technologies 7820A GC System 5975 Series Gas Mass Selective Detector (GC-MS)

The GC-MS system is equipped with Agilent Technologies 7820A gas chromatography system with Rtx-5ms capillary column (30m x 0.25mm x 0.25µm) and coupled to 5975 mass selective detector. This instrument can detect pM amount of samples and is primarily used for monosaccharide and linkage analysis of glycans. This instrument is also used for fatty acid and amino acid analysis upon request.

Thermo Scientific LTQ-XL Orbitrap Discovery Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometer

A Thermo Scientific LTQ Orbitrap Discovery electrospray ionization mass spectrometer equipped with Thermo Scientific Ultimate 3000 HPLC system. This system also has an online Ultimate 3000 variable wavelength detector. This system is primarily used for analysis of sialic acids, neutral and charged glycans, and disaccharides generated from glycosaminoglycans.

Waters ACQUITY UPLC-FL

The instrument is an ultra pressure liquid chromatography equipped with fluorescent detector and high resolution column. This system is used for analysis of DMB-tagged sialic acid and 2-AB tagged N-linked glycans in low pM to fM amounts.

sciFLEXARRAYER S3 Microarray Printer

SciFLEXARRAYER S3 is a contactless spotter with automated ultra-low volume liquid handling of various types of samples, including biological materials or cells. This instrument provides high-speed printing through a ceramic piezo element fitted around glass capillaries for generating spots ranging from 50-1000μm, which can be arrayed with <3μm precision and <5μm accuracy. The instrument is equipped with a live-stream camera and array quality control software to ensure high-fidelity array production. The S3 system offers optimal balance of performance and throughput and is ideal for application development as well as routine printing of glycan, protein, and DNA arrays.

The GlycoAnalytics Core also has access to an NMR and provides NMR analysis of glycans.