Speaker: Dr. Ronghu Wu, Georgia Institute of Technology
Title: “Effective Mass Spectrometry-Based Methods for Comprehensive and Site-Specific Characterization of Protein Glycosylation”

Abstract: Glycosylation determines protein folding, trafficking and stability, and it regulates nearly every extracellular activity, including cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, and cell immune response. Currently, mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics provides a unique opportunity to analyze proteins and their modifications on a large scale. However, global and site-specific analysis of glycoproteins is extraordinarily challenging because of the low abundance of many glycoproteins, the heterogeneity of glycans, and the complexity of biological samples. In order to globally analyze protein glycosylation in complex biological samples, innovative enrichment methods are imperative. We have developed effective MS-based chemical and enzymatic methods to comprehensively and site-specifically analyze glycoproteins. Furthermore, almost all proteins on the cell surface are glycosylated and surface glycoproteins are essential for cells to interact with other cells and the extracellular matrix. Global analysis of glycoproteins only on the cell surface is even more challenging. We have worked on the development of novel methods integrating metabolic labeling and bioorthogonal chemistry to specifically target surface glycoproteins for MS analysis. Then, the developed method was applied to systematically investigate the dynamics of surface glycoproteins in immune cells (monocyte and macrophage) during the infection, and besides the well-documented glycoprotein changes, we also identified some new surface glycoproteins participating in the immune response. Additionally, the research provided site-specific information regarding protein glycosylation changes during the immune response. The quantification of glycoproteins in the differentiation experiment from monocyte to macrophage revealed that different responses were at least partly attributed to the priming of monocytes during the differentiation. Global analysis of glycoproteins and surface ones will provide in-depth understanding of protein functions and cellular activities, leading to the discovery of glycoproteins as disease biomarkers and drug targets.

The Chemistry and Biochemistry Departmental Seminar Series covers a broad range of fields in the Chemical and Biochemical Sciences. In past seminars, scientists from Academia, Government, and Industry have presented their most recent discoveries and contributions in their respective areas. This Seminar Series offers students and faculty the opportunity to interact directly with other leaders in their specializations and to gain a good overview of the entire range of fields in Chemistry and Biochemistry.

This seminar will take place in person.