Short Courses,Graduate Study,Ad hoc Training

Complex Carbohydrate Research Center
Summer 2008 Course Information

Two courses are being offered by the Complex Carbohydrate Research Center (CCRC). The courses are funded by the DOE-funded Plant and Microbial Carbohydrate Center, the NIH Integrated Technology Resource for Biomedical Glycomics and the NIH Integrated Technology Resource for Glycotechnology.

Due to a high demand, the separation and characterization of glycoconjugate oligosaccharides course is being offer twice. However, participants who are planning to attend both courses should register for Course 2 on Aug 11-15,2008 and Course 3 on Aug 18-22, 2008.

Separation and Characterization of Glycoconjugate Oligosaccharides
August 4-8-2008 and August 11-15-2008

Participants will learn basic techniques for the isolation and characterization of oligosaccharides via a combination of hands-on work, lectures and demonstrations. Mixtures of oligosaccharides or glycopeptides derived from glycoproteins will be resolved into individual components by chromatographic procedures such as size-exclusion, HPLC and lectin affinity chromatography. Glycosphingolipids will be separated by thin-layer chromatography, and detection protocols will be discussed. The use of lectin blotting techniques for characterization of oligosaccharide structural features will be covered. Other topics to be included are release and structural characterization of O-linked glycans, and monosaccharide composition analysis. In addition, modules on using mass spectrometry, computer modeling or NMR spectroscopy for analysis of glycoconjugates will be included (see descriptions below). Experience with basic biochemical techniques is a prerequisite for participation.

Analytical Techniques for Carbohydrate Structure Determination
August 18-22-2008

This course will cover the techniques of glycosyl residue (composition) and glycosyl linkage (methylation) analyses using gas-liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Participants will perform analyses of purified oligosaccharides, and they may bring one of their own samples. Lectures and demonstrations will cover other techniques for structural analysis. In addition, a choice of modules either on using mass spectrometry, computer modeling, or NMR spectroscopy for analysis of glycoconjugates will be included (see descriptions below). Experience with basic biochemical techniques is a prerequisite for participation.

Additional Course Modules

On the Friday of each course, participants can choose one of the following three modules, Mass Spectrometric (MS) Analysis of Glycoconjugates, Computational Simulations of Carbohydrate Conformation and NMR of Carbohydrates. The course participants should indicate on the course application form which module they would be interested in taking.

Mass Spectrometric (MS) Analysis of Glycoconjugates: The use of mass spectrometry for the characterization of glycoconjugates will be discussed. Topics in this area will include identifying occupied glycosylation sites by LC-MS and sequencing glycoprotein glycans with sequential exoglycosidase digestions followed by MS. Laboratory demonstrations will also be performed on these two topics.
Computational Simulations of Carbohydrate Conformation: The course will present a discussion of the conformational preferences of oligosaccharides. Focus will then shift to the prediction and validation of oligosaccharide structures produced computationally with molecular dynamics simulations with the AMBER/GLYCAM force field. NMR of Carbohydrates:
This module will be an introduction to the application of NMR spectroscopy of polysaccharides and glycoconjugates covering i) essential features of NMR spectra, ii) protocols used to solve primary structures, iii) applications and examples from the current literature, and iv) resources for information. Our four NMR instruments (300-, 500-, 600- and 800 MHz) will be used for demonstrations during this module.

** The course will feature hands-on laboratory work and will include demonstrations and lectures. A lab manual including selected analytical techniques and references will be provided. The cost of registration (including lunch) is $600 per course for individuals from nonprofit institutions; $1400 for others. The cost of travel and lodging is not included. Rooms have been reserved for course participants at the Holiday Inn ($82.00/night + tax), and transportation between hotel and the CCRC will be provided.

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