nQuant Enables Precise Quantitative N-Glycomics

Abstract

N-glycosylation is a highly heterogeneous post-translational modification that modulates protein function. Defects in N-glycosylation are directly linked to various human diseases. Despite the importance of quantifying N-glycans with high precision, existing glycoinformatics tools are limited. Here, we developed nQuant, a glycoinformatics tool that enables label-free and isotopic labeling quantification of N-glycomics data obtained via LC-MS/MS, ensuring a low false quantitation rate. Using the label-free quantification module, we profiled the N-glycans released from purified glycoproteins and HEK293 cells as well as the dynamic changes of N-glycosylation during mouse corpus callosum development. Through the isotopic labeling quantification module, we revealed the dynamic changes of N-glycans in acute promyelocytic leukemia cells after all-trans retinoic acid treatment. Taken together, we demonstrate that nQuant enables fast and precise quantitative N-glycomics.