Dot by dot: analyzing the glycome using lectin microarrays

The glycome, that is, the cohort of carbohydrates within a cell or tissue, plays a key part in diverse biological interactions involved in health and disease. Glycans are structurally complex and notoriously difficult to analyze. Lectin microarrays, a sensitive and high-throughput method for glycomic profiling, provide a global view of the glycome. In recent work, this technology has been successfully applied to a wide range of studies, from identification of glycan-based stem cell markers to the detection of pathogens and early diagnosis of disease. This review focuses on advances in the field of lectin microarrays.