N-GlcNAc-Biotin

N-GlcNAc-Biotin is a glycoconjugate compound that combines N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) with biotin, offering significant utility in the study of glycan-binding proteins, enzyme specificity, and glycosylation pathways. This compound serves as a biotin-labeled analog that can be easily detected via avidin-biotin affinity methods, such as streptavidin-based detection systems. In research, N-GlcNAc-Biotin is valuable for identifying and isolating glycan-binding proteins. It plays a crucial role in lectin binding assays, where it is used to characterize lectins that specifically bind to GlcNAc-containing glycans. This chemical can also aid in profiling glycosyltransferase activity by providing a labeled substrate for enzymatic reactions. The biotin tag enables visualization through streptavidin-linked enzymes or fluorophores, facilitating detection via various methods such as ELISA or fluorescence microscopy. Additionally, researchers utilize this conjugate to investigate glycoproteins, particularly to explore post-translational modifications in glycosylation and their implications in cellular signaling. Its incorporation in glycan microarrays and enzyme assays has advanced our understanding of the interactions between carbohydrates and proteins, aiding in the elucidation of cellular mechanisms involving glycan recognition and metabolism.