Carbohydrate Microarray Facility
We are a multidisciplinary team brings together expertise in biology, biochemistry, immunochemistry, carbohydrate chemistry, mass spectrometry and structural biology, with a particular focus on glycobiology and carbohydrate recognition. The Facility hosts one of the world’s largest and most diverse collections of carbohydrate materials.
We provide glycan microarray screening and follow-up collaborative studies to investigate carbohydrate-binding and recognition systems, including recombinant and natural antibodies, bacterial adhesins, viruses and viral capsid proteins, as well as proteins involved in innate and adaptive immunity and cancer.
Our specialised technologies enable the generation of custom “designer” and “beam-search” glycan arrays from selected glycoconjugates, allowing rapid and detailed characterisation of novel carbohydrate-recognition systems. Microarray data are analysed, interpreted and visualised using our dedicated glycan microarray analysis software, enabling clear identification of binding patterns, ligand specificities and biologically meaningful carbohydrate-recognition profiles.
We also welcome collaborations with carbohydrate and glycoconjugate chemists who wish to contribute newly synthesised compounds for inclusion in our screening microarrays. Novel ligand discoveries can provide the basis for further collaborative studies and joint publications.
Interested in glycan microarray screening, carbohydrate-recognition studies or contributing new compounds? Please contact Facility Manager Dr Antonio Di Maio (a.di-maio@imperial.ac.uk) and/or Head of Facility Prof. Yan Liu (yan.liu2@imperial.ac.uk).
How we work
A web-based request system has been implemented for submitting requests for carbohydrate screening microarray analyses, accessible via the blue 'Submit a resource request' button below.
Requests will be reviewed by the microarray analysis team who will correspond as appropriate by email or teleconferencing before the decision regarding analyses. Once approved, a sample submission spreadsheet will be sent to the investigator by email for entering details of samples to be analysed and these will be uploaded to the sample database for filing purposes.
Results of analyses will be provided to investigators as written reports together with histogram charts and tables with fluorescence binding scores. These will be in the form of PDF files sent via email attachment or other suitable file exchange system; Excel files are provided upon request. There will be opportunities for discussions of the data and follow-on collaborations as appropriate. Data will remain confidential until publication or protection of data.
Screening analyses
The NGL-based microarray system contains lipid-linked oligosaccharide probes, with a high content of natural oligosaccharide sequences, some of which are difficult to synthesise: the repertoire includes NGLs derived from diverse oligosaccharide sequences of mammalian-type glycoproteins, glycolipids, and glycosaminoglycans and those from bacterial, fungal and plant polysaccharides. Natural and synthetic glycolipids are also arrayed in parallel. The repertoire is continually expanding in number and structural diversity. Currently, the number of sequence-defined probes is approximately 900, of which 796 are displayed on the webpage; others will be displayed after publication.
We offer microarray screening analyses to the scientific community using our broad-spectrum screening arrays containing around 900 sequence-defined glycan probes. Focused arrays are also available, e.g. mucin array, sialyl glycan array, and bacterial, fungal and plant gluco-oligosaccharide array.
Depending on the study, fees typically range from £500 to £1,000 per sample. As an academic research facility, we are committed to supporting the wider scientific community and keeping access to our services as affordable as possible. Our charges are therefore deliberately kept well below typical commercial rates and are intended primarily to cover consumables and essential recurring costs.
When a series of samples are proposed for analysis or new probes need to be prepared charges are considered on a case-by-case basis. Please contact Dr Antonio Di Maio (a.di-maio@imperial.ac.uk) Prof Yan Liu (yan.liu2@imperial.ac.uk) for details.
Submit a resource request, Data and software
Further information and guidance
The carbohydrate-binding assays are most commonly performed with soluble proteins, such as plant lectins, anti-carbohydrate antibodies and recombinant proteins with suitable tags (for example IgG-Fc or hexa-His). Whole viruses or virus-like particles may also be analyzed, either after suitable labeling (for example biotinylation) or using non-blocking antibodies for detection of binding. Culture supernatants and whole sera can also be analysed.
Important: To label proteins, please avoid using fluorophores which have emissions similar to the wavelength of Cy3 which we incorporate into the array fluid to monitor arrayed spots; these will interfere with our array and analysis system. In standard procedures, binding is detected with Alexa Fluor 647-labeled streptavidin. The microarray facility will provide appropriate ‘anti-tag’ antibodies, as well as commercially available biotinylated secondary antibodies (e.g. anti-human or anti-mouse IgG or IgM).
As for the amount of protein required for microarray analysis, we usually request 100-200 µl containing 0.5-1.0 mg of protein per ml of a stable buffered solution (for example Hepes buffered saline) that does not contain detergent. As a preservative for samples we recommend having 0.02% w/v NaN3 in the solution. For serum samples, we suggest ~50 µl per sample for multiple microarray analyses.
Investigators are to contact Dr Antonio Di Maio (a.di-maio@imperial.ac.uk) or Prof Yan Liu (yan.liu2@imperial.ac.uk) if there are any queries.
General enquiries
Carbohydrate microarray analyses
Professor Ten Feizi
t.feizi@imperial.ac.uk
+44 (0) 20 7594 7207
Dr Yan Liu
yan.liu2@imperial.ac.uk
+44 (0) 20 7594 2598
Dr Antonio Di Maio
a.di-maio@imperial.ac.uk
Carbohydrate structural analyses
Dr Wengang Chai
w.chai@imperial.ac.uk
+44 (0) 20 7594 2596
