The growing importance of glycobiology and carbohydrate chemistry in modern biotechnology and the pharmaceutical industry makes accurate carbohydrate analysis indispensable. This book provides the principles and protocols of various fundamental carbohydrate analysis methods. Choice of method is entirely dependent upon the type of material being investigated (biological samples, food products, etc.), and the level of structural detail required, i.e. sugar content, compositional analysis, linkages between the sugar components, or the total chemical structure of a given molecule. Full structural characterization of carbohydrate chains requires significant time, resources, and skill in several methods of analysis; no single technique can address all glycan analysis needs. This book summarizes several existing analytical techniques (both chemical and physical) in an introductory volume designed for the non-expert researcher or novice scientist. While background in carbohydrate chemistry is assumed, all information necessary to understanding the described techniques is addressed in the text.

Dr. Gerrit J. Gerwig earned his Ph.D. degree in Bio-Organic Chemistry from Utrecht University, The Netherlands. During 40 years, he was involved in Glycobiology and Carbohydrate Research at Utrecht University, together with Prof. Dr. JFG Vliegenthart and Prof. Dr. JP Kamerling. Thereafter, during 10 years, he had a guest position as carbohydrate researcher in the group of Prof. Dr. L Dijkhuizen at the University of Groningen, The Netherlands. At this moment, he is associated with CarbExplore Research BV, a glycobiotechnology company in Groningen. He has published over 150 peer-reviewed scientific papers in international journals and several chapters in different books on glycoscience.