Methylated Glycan Library Products

Methylated Glycan Libraries for Advanced Mass Spectrometry

In the rapidly evolving field of glycomics, accurate structural identification, relative quantification, and absolute quantification of N- and O-glycans are paramount. Native glycans present significant analytical challenges due to their inherent structural heterogeneity, poly-hydroxyl nature (which leads to poor ionization efficiency), and the presence of numerous positional isomers. These factors often result in low signal-to-noise ratios, structural ambiguity, and instability during sample preparation and storage.

Our comprehensive methylated glycan library directly addresses these limitations. We provide researchers with essential, highest-purity, fully validated standards and reagents required to optimize and execute high-sensitivity mass spectrometry (MS) analysis of complex carbohydrates. By employing methylation - the gold-standard derivatization strategy for glycan MS, particularly for MALDI-TOF and ESI-LC-MS platforms - we offer a meticulously characterized product line designed for absolute analytical confidence and maximum detection power.

The Transformative Advantages of Methylation

Methylation is a powerful chemical derivatization technique that is absolutely critical for maximizing the analytical success of glycomics by MS. Our library ensures that all standards are confirmed to be uniformly and completely derivatized, providing unmatched chromatographic and ionization performance.

Table 1 Key analytical advantages of the library.

Feature	Description	Analytical Impact
Ultra-enhanced ionization	Methylation neutralizes polar hydroxyl groups and creates more uniform sites for cation attachment, leading to dramatically improved sensitivity and signal intensity in positive ion mode MS, critical for low-abundance samples.	Low-abundance, highly complex, and clinical sample glycans become reliably detectable, pushing the limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ).
Superior structural stability	The methylated ether linkage is highly robust and stable, preventing degradation or unwanted structural rearrangement during sample handling, lyophilization, and prolonged storage.	Ensures the preservation of the native structural information from the initial sample preparation stage through to the final MS run, minimizing artifacts.
Optimized chromatographic resolution	This hydrophobic modification dramatically improves chromatographic separation. This is particularly advantageous for separating intricate positional isomers.	Achieves baseline resolution for co-eluting or closely related glycan structures (e.g., 3- vs 6-linked core fucose), a challenge often insurmountable with native glycans.

Our methylated glycan library is a comprehensive and modular system, offering certified standards and high-quality reagents tailored for every stage of glycomics research, from method validation to routine high-throughput screening.

Methylated Glycan Standards

These products consist of single, high-purity, structurally verified glycan standards that have been fully methylated. Each standard is shipped with a certificate of analysis detailing its purity (verified by HPLC and MS) and concentration. They serve as essential spiking controls or reference points for confirming exact mass, retention time, and fragmentation patterns.

Methylated Glycan Reference Mixtures

These ready-to-use mixtures contain a precisely defined panel of common and structurally diverse N- and O-glycans, all supplied in their methylated form at certified concentrations. These mixes are designed to stress-test the entire LC-MS workflow.

Glycan Methylation Reagent

For researchers who prefer to methylate their own complex biological samples (e.g., purified cell lines, serum glycoproteins, or tissue extracts), we provide optimized, robust, and easy-to-use kits based on the highly effective modified Ciucanu and Kerek method.

Various methylated glycan library standards. (Creative Biolabs Original)

Expanded Applications Across Disciplines

Our methylated glycan library is a foundational resource that minimizes analytical variability and maximizes data quality, driving crucial discovery across pharmaceutical, clinical, and fundamental research sectors. The enhanced sensitivity and stability provided by methylation are indispensable across the following key areas:

Biopharmaceuticals

The regulatory landscape demands precise and reliable quantification of critical glycoforms (such as high mannose, sialylation, and fucosylation) on therapeutic proteins, as these modifications directly impact drug efficacy, pharmacokinetics, and safety profiles. Our methylated standards are utilized for the rigorous glycoform analysis of complex biotherapeutics, including monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), and fusion proteins. They are essential tools for ensuring regulatory compliance, conducting rigorous batch-release testing, and monitoring protein stability throughout the drug development lifecycle.

Biomarker Discovery

Analyzing disease-associated glycans in complex biological matrices like serum or plasma requires the highest possible sensitivity due to their inherently low concentration. The methylation process significantly amplifies the MS signal, addressing the challenge of low abundance and high sample complexity. This enables the absolute quantification of key disease-associated sialylated and fucosylated glycans in patient biofluids, serving as crucial reference points for the early diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic monitoring of various diseases.

Fundamental Glycoscience

Researchers exploring novel or highly complex glycan structures - often derived from non-standard biological sources - require definitive tools for structural assignment. Methylated standards are the gold standard for structural characterization. By providing clean, highly fragmentable ions, our library aids in the detailed annotation of newly identified structures, allowing researchers to confirm complex monosaccharide compositions, branching patterns, and linkage topologies with unprecedented certainty.

Take the Next Step: Partner with Us for Analytical Excellence

Creative Biolabs' team of analytical chemists and glycomics experts understands the unique technical challenges associated with methylation and MS analysis. We are committed to providing you with the highest quality, most rigorously tested Glycan Library Standards to ensure the success and reproducibility of your glycomics project.

We invite you to contact us for:

Custom Glycan Synthesis: If your research focuses on a novel or rare glycan structure not currently in our catalogue, our synthesis team can rapidly produce and certify custom glycan standards to your exact specifications.
Glycan Modification & Labeling: In addition to methylated glycans, we also offer a diverse range of glycan libraries, including standard N-Glycan, O-Glycan, Sulfated Glycan, and Tag based Glycan Libraries, to support comprehensive glycomics research.
Technical Consultation: Receive expert guidance on integrating our glycan standards into your existing LC-MS workflow, including protocol optimization and troubleshooting assistance.

Don't let analytical challenges limit your discovery. Please contact our glycomics specialist team today to request pricing, technical data sheets, and schedule a personalized consultation.