Glycomics

Glycomics is the study of glycans and their roles in cellular functioning. Glycans are a type of carbohydrate consisting of various monosaccharide units, and they are highly prevalent in many biological organisms. Glycomics is important to understanding a variety of biological processes, such as inflammation, without which, living organisms would not survive. Glycomics research is also important for developing new therapeutics and diagnostics, as many diseases involve disruptions in glycan-containing macromolecules. Understanding the glycome – the collective and total set of glycans present in a biological system – is essential for developing treatments for these and other diseases. In addition, glycomics provides valuable insight into evolutionary studies and systems biology.