Figuring Out How to See the Glycome

In PNAS, Berkeley researchers discuss how to image the glycome. Usually, glycans are identified by using antibodies or lectins bound to probes. Since those methods are not easily applied to in vivo imaging, researchers are beginning to turn to metabolic labeling and fluorescent probes, say Scott Laughlin and Carolyn Bertozzi. "A collection of such reagents would enable a more thorough analysis of how glycan patterns change during normal and pathological processes," they write.

PNAS also notes that beginning with papers submitted this month, its authors will keep the copyright to their papers and the National Academies of Science will have the exclusive right to publish it.