Database search assisted N-glycan structure identification

Abstract Capillary electrophoresis-based glycan separation and structure identification is one of the most frequently used tools in almost all fields of biological-medical research and biopharmaceutical manufacturing. In this chapter, recent advances in database search assisted glycan structure identification techniques are discussed. The underlying theory together with the principles of the different approaches as well as practical aspects are described in detail targeting both academic and industrial audience. Methods, such as traditional glucose unit calculation, the so-called virtual ladder approach, exoglycosidase based glycan sequencing, as well as possible utilization options of the current databases are detailed emphasizing their fundamentals and applications.