Glycans are complex sugars consisting of three or more monosaccharides, like glucose, linked together in a complex fashion. They are among the most diverse and important compounds in nature. Whether stand-alone or attached to proteins (glycoproteins), lipids (glycolipids) and other molecules, glycans play essential roles in the body. Among them, cell recognition and signalling are key with effects on metabolism, inflammation and the immune system. The structural diversity of glycans poses a fundamental challenge for both their chemical synthesis as well as their characterisation. The EU-funded GlycoSpec project will unravel glycochemistry and its diverse mechanisms to pave the way to glycomics and broad accessibility to oligosaccharides for socioeconomically important applications.

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