Sequence analysis for the terminal sugars of oligosaccharide chain

Glycan moieties of complex carbohydrates contribute important functional roles of molecules in recognition, memory, half life and molecular transport and targeting in mammalian physiology in normal and pathological conditions. Oligosaccharide chains comprise of sugar residues in specific sequence, particular linkages and defined anomery. These particular features provide diverse function to the glycan moiety. The contribution of component sugar residues, particularly terminal sugar and their vicinal and consequent sugar residues, sequence, linkages and anomery has not been related to its function as yet. In current study, we have developed an algorithm, sequence analysis for the terminal sugar oligosaccharide chain, which is based on terminal carbohydrate moieties, Gal and GaINAc. The developed tool relates the function with terminal sugars up to tetrasaccharide at terminal and vicinal sugar residues, linkages and anomery.