Details
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 375-378 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | NATURE |
Volume | 582 |
Issue number | 7812 |
Early online date | 17 Jun 2020 |
Publication status | Published - 18 Jun 2020 |
Externally published | Yes |
Abstract
Imaging of biomolecules guides our understanding of their diverse structures and functions1,2. Real-space imaging at sub-nanometre resolution using cryo-electron microscopy has provided key insights into proteins and their assemblies3,4. Direct molecular imaging of glycans—the predominant biopolymers on Earth, with a plethora of structural and biological functions5—has not been possible so far6. The inherent glycan complexity and backbone flexibility require single-molecule approaches for real-space imaging. At present, glycan characterization often relies on a combination of mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging to provide insights into size, sequence, branching and connectivity, and therefore requires structure reconstruction from indirect information7–9. Here we show direct imaging of single glycan molecules that are isolated by mass-selective, soft-landing electrospray ion beam deposition and imaged by low-temperature scanning tunnelling microscopy10. The sub-nanometre resolution of the technique enables the visualization of glycan connectivity and discrimination between regioisomers. Direct glycan imaging is an important step towards a better understanding of the structure of carbohydrates.
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In: NATURE, Vol. 582, No. 7812, 18.06.2020, p. 375-378.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Imaging single glycans
AU - Wu, X.
AU - Delbianco, M.
AU - Anggara, K.
AU - Michnowicz, T.
AU - Pardo-Vargas, A.
AU - Bharate, P.
AU - Sen, S.
AU - Pristl, M.
AU - Rauschenbach, S.
AU - Schlickum, U.
AU - Abb, S.
AU - Seeberger, P. H.
AU - Kern, K.
N1 - Funding Information: Acknowledgements We thank the Max Planck Society and Alexander von Humboldt Foundation for financial support. M.D. thanks the Minerva Fast Track Program and the MPG-FhG Cooperation Project Glyco3Dysplay. The authors acknowledge the Emmy-Noether-Program of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.
PY - 2020/6/18
Y1 - 2020/6/18
N2 - Imaging of biomolecules guides our understanding of their diverse structures and functions1,2. Real-space imaging at sub-nanometre resolution using cryo-electron microscopy has provided key insights into proteins and their assemblies3,4. Direct molecular imaging of glycans—the predominant biopolymers on Earth, with a plethora of structural and biological functions5—has not been possible so far6. The inherent glycan complexity and backbone flexibility require single-molecule approaches for real-space imaging. At present, glycan characterization often relies on a combination of mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging to provide insights into size, sequence, branching and connectivity, and therefore requires structure reconstruction from indirect information7–9. Here we show direct imaging of single glycan molecules that are isolated by mass-selective, soft-landing electrospray ion beam deposition and imaged by low-temperature scanning tunnelling microscopy10. The sub-nanometre resolution of the technique enables the visualization of glycan connectivity and discrimination between regioisomers. Direct glycan imaging is an important step towards a better understanding of the structure of carbohydrates.
AB - Imaging of biomolecules guides our understanding of their diverse structures and functions1,2. Real-space imaging at sub-nanometre resolution using cryo-electron microscopy has provided key insights into proteins and their assemblies3,4. Direct molecular imaging of glycans—the predominant biopolymers on Earth, with a plethora of structural and biological functions5—has not been possible so far6. The inherent glycan complexity and backbone flexibility require single-molecule approaches for real-space imaging. At present, glycan characterization often relies on a combination of mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging to provide insights into size, sequence, branching and connectivity, and therefore requires structure reconstruction from indirect information7–9. Here we show direct imaging of single glycan molecules that are isolated by mass-selective, soft-landing electrospray ion beam deposition and imaged by low-temperature scanning tunnelling microscopy10. The sub-nanometre resolution of the technique enables the visualization of glycan connectivity and discrimination between regioisomers. Direct glycan imaging is an important step towards a better understanding of the structure of carbohydrates.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85086584571&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1038/s41586-020-2362-1
DO - 10.1038/s41586-020-2362-1
M3 - Article
C2 - 32555487
AN - SCOPUS:85086584571
VL - 582
SP - 375
EP - 378
JO - NATURE
JF - NATURE
SN - 0028-0836
IS - 7812
ER -