Glycoproteomic analysis of erythrocytes and PBMCs

The healthcare system relies heavily on blood and blood products for a large variety of life-saving treatments. However, blood products are perishable and have short shelf lives. Given the continuous demand for these products, this issue must be addressed. As blood is stored, the profile of cell surface sugars, known as glycans, has been shown to change. However, the mechanism behind the modification of the glycans remains unclear. Red blood cells (RBCs) themselves have been studied from many different perspectives, but a critical analysis of these glycans has not yet been conducted. We hypothesize that such an analysis would reveal important links between the structure and function of these glycans and their role in stabilizing RBCs for storage as well as reducing adverse events following transfusion. This project will focus on analyzing RBCs and platelets through a glycoproteomic lens in order to gain valuable insights into the biological contribution of glycans to blood and blood products. The findings of this project will set the stage for investigating the impact of the glycosylation of blood and blood products on immune regulation and inflammatory response.

Faculty Supervisor:

Lisa Willis

Student:

Partner:

The University of Melbourne

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Education

University:

University of Alberta

Program: