MUC1 Glycopeptide Array

Description

Mucin 1 (MUC1) is a transmembrane glycoprotein. It is one of the several proteins that make up mucus. The extracellular domain of MUC1 comprises a variable number of 20-amino-acid tandem repeats that are highly O-glycosylated. In each O-glycosite, α-N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc, Tn) is first attached to the hydroxyl group of threonine (Thr) and serine (Ser) of the tandem repeats, which are further extended with galactose (Gal), N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc), or GalNAc to form eight different core structures. These structures can be further modified by sialylation, sulfation, acetylation, fucosylation, and polylactosamine extensions.

MUC1 is expressed on the surface of normal epithelial cells, and changes in glycosylation patterns occur in various pathological conditions. For example, aberrant glycosylation of MUC1 prevents cancer cells from forming core 2-based glycans. Therefore, cancer-associated MUC1 is hypoglycosylated with short carbohydrate structures such as Tn (GalNAc-Ser or -Thr) and STn (Neu5Ac-6-GalNAc-Thr). This unique feature makes MUC1 an ideal cancer-specific antigen for therapeutic development.

Z Biotech has developed a robust microarray platform that allows researchers to screen a large MUC1 glycopeptide library. The current MUC1 glycopeptide array includes 62 MUC1 glycopeptides and 1 unglycosylated control peptide. Each glycopeptide is 23-mer in length and modified with Tn (GalNAc-Ser or -Thr) or STn (Neu5Ac-6-GalNAc-Ser or -Thr). This microarray allows researchers to identify, profile, and compare specific antibody responses and detect and validate protein interactions with various MUC1 glycoforms. This array is highly sensitive with low background. The MUC1 glycopeptide array can be customized to meet individual client needs. Assay services are available upon request. We also provide services to synthesize various MUC1 glycopeptides.

Features

• Unrivaled sensitivity and specificity;
• Simple assay format;
• Small sample volume;
• Customizable (select MUC1 peptides and/or glycopeptides for a specific microarray format)
• Assay service available;

Applications

• Serological screening of disease-associated autoantibodies binding to MUC1 glycopeptides;
• Map unique MUC1 glycopeptide epitopes to determine carbohydrate specificities of antibodies;
• Evaluate binding specificities of MUC1-interacting proteins, vesicles, cells, and viral particles.