Antibody Glycosylation Analysis Service

Monoclonal antibodies and their derivatives have become core products in modern biopharmaceuticals, widely applied in the treatment of cancer, autoimmune disorders, and infectious diseases. The structure and function of antibodies are determined not only by their amino acid sequences but are also profoundly influenced by glycosylation modifications. In particular, N-linked glycosylation in the Fc region plays a critical role in antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), immune recognition, stability, and half-life. Even subtle differences in glycan structures may lead to significant variations in antibody pharmacological properties, thereby affecting clinical efficacy and safety. Therefore, systematic and precise antibody glycosylation analysis has become a central step in drug development, quality control, and consistency evaluation, and is also a key requirement in regulatory review.

Beyze, A. et al. Nat Rev Nephrol. 2024.

MtoZ Biolabs, leveraging advanced mass spectrometry platforms, separation technologies, and functional analysis tools, provides high-quality and reproducible Antibody Glycosylation Analysis Service that enables researchers and pharmaceutical companies to comprehensively characterize antibody glycosylation features, offering solid data support for antibody development, optimization, and clinical applications.

Services at MtoZ Biolabs

In antibody glycosylation analysis, MtoZ Biolabs integrates multiple advanced analytical platforms. Mass spectrometry (MS) is the core technique, providing high-resolution data for site identification and glycan structural analysis. By applying different fragmentation modes (HCD, ETD, EThcD), we can resolve complex structures and detect low-abundance modifications. Capillary electrophoresis (CE) enables efficient separation of glycan isomers and charge variants, particularly suitable for studying microheterogeneity and batch-to-batch consistency. Glycan microarray is applied at the functional level, revealing interactions between antibody glycans and receptors or immune molecules. In addition, the emerging MALDI-ISD FT-ICR MS technology allows rapid glycan profiling directly at the intact antibody level, significantly improving speed and efficiency, especially for glycoengineering and early development stages.

Through the combination of these platforms, our antibody glycosylation analysis service covers the complete workflow from structural characterization to functional interpretation. Our Antibody Glycosylation Analysis Service includes:

1. Glycosylation site identification: High-precision mapping of N-linked or O-linked glycosylation sites in Fc and Fab regions.

2. Glycan structure analysis: Characterization of monosaccharide composition, branching, linkage patterns, and terminal modifications.

3. Quantitative glycan profiling: Comparing glycan distribution across different batches, process conditions, or clinical stages of antibody samples.

4. Microheterogeneity assessment: Revealing glycoform diversity within the same antibody molecule.

5. Functional relevance analysis: Linking glycosylation patterns to antibody stability, half-life, and immune effector functions.

Analysis Workflow

1. Sample receipt and pretreatment

2. Glycan release or glycopeptide preparation

3. Separation by chromatography or capillary electrophoresis

4. Mass spectrometry and glycan microarray detection

5. Data processing and structural annotation

6. Quantitative comparison and functional interpretation

7. Report delivery with visualization

Senini, I. et al. Commun Chem. 2024.

Service Advantages

1. Multi-dimensional capability to address complex glycan structures

Antibody glycans often exhibit diverse branching, complex isomers, and variable terminal modifications. MtoZ Biolabs, using high-resolution MS platforms (Orbitrap, Q-Exactive) and multiple fragmentation modes (HCD, ETD, EThcD), can accurately dissect glycan details, from monosaccharide composition to linkage types.

2. High sensitivity for detecting low-abundance modifications

Low-abundance modifications, such as sialylation or specific fucosylation, are often missed by conventional approaches. By combining LC-MS/MS with MALDI-ISD FT-ICR MS, we significantly improve detection sensitivity and depth of coverage, ensuring reliable capture of rare glycan features.

3. Minimizing bias from sample preparation

Sample preparation steps such as glycan release and derivatization can introduce bias. By integrating CE and HILIC separation, our antibody glycosylation analysis service reduces selective loss and ensures comprehensive and objective data quality.

4. Accurate data analysis and quantification strategies

Complex glycan fragmentation signals often overlap, posing challenges in interpretation. MtoZ Biolabs employs advanced bioinformatics tools and algorithms to deliver multi-layered data analysis, relative quantification, and batch-to-batch comparison, ensuring accurate evaluation of production or process variations.

5. Functional interpretation beyond structural profiling

The impact of glycosylation on ADCC, CDC, half-life, and stability is not always linear. Alongside structural and quantitative results, our antibody glycosylation analysis service integrates glycan microarray and functional assays to link glycosylation patterns with biological function, providing actionable insights for research and clinical applications.

FAQs

Q1: How long does the antibody glycosylation analysis service take?

A1: The typical analysis cycle is about 2–4 weeks, depending on sample complexity and required depth.

Sample Submission Suggestions

• Sample type: Monoclonal antibodies, antibody fragments, or antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs).

• Sample amount: Provide sufficient material to ensure reliable analysis; please consult us in advance for details.

• Transport: Shipping on dry ice is recommended to avoid prolonged exposure at room temperature.

• Storage: Store at –80°C and avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles to maintain glycosylation integrity.

• Information submission: Provide detailed information on sample source, production process, and research objectives.

Deliverables

• Experimental records and sample preparation documentation

• Glycosylation site identification results

• Glycan structure analysis report

• Qualitative and quantitative datasets

• Raw MS and CE files

• Data visualization outputs (glycan distribution plots, spectra)

• Comprehensive functional relevance analysis report

Antibody glycosylation is a critical quality attribute that directly determines therapeutic efficacy, safety, and consistency. MtoZ Biolabs, with its advanced analytical platforms and specialized workflows, provides high-quality and reproducible antibody glycosylation analysis service that supports researchers and pharmaceutical partners in thoroughly characterizing antibody glycosylation features, thereby accelerating antibody drug development and clinical translation.

Contact us today to start your antibody glycosylation analysis project.