Carbohydrate microarray printer for plant and microbial glycomics for food, nutrition and health research

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Plants, yeasts and bacteria cells are all surrounded by a cell wall, which is made up of a complex mixtures of carbohydrates. The cell wall determines many of the important properties of biological products and so is an excellent target for genetic improvement. However, these carbohydrate networks are very complex to analyse, and hundreds of genes are needed for their construction. To understand these structures properly generally requires time consuming and expensive chemical analyses, which can make it difficult to collect enough data to match modern genetic technologies.To address this we have developed a 'carbohydrate microarray-based' method which is able to analyse thousands of microscopic carbohydrate spots printed onto special microscope slides. Fine tuning of this approach has enabled us to collect cell wall carbohydrate data from hundreds of cultivars/strains (same species, different genetics) and has allowed us to match these differences to differences in genetics. Applying this technology to yeast strains housed at the National Collection of Yeast Cultures at IFR has led to exciting new research, working with other teams across the Norwich Research Park. We are also working with The University of York to apply this technology in plants. Overall, our current work has enormous potential to support a whole range of activities on existing projects and beyond which focus on improving Human Health, using microbes for industry (Industrial Biotechnology), and renewable energy from plants (Bioenergy). Unfortunately, the current microarray printing equipment we rely on is old and cannot be maintained. The printer was built in 2004 to print DNA microarrays and so relies on old software and parts. Modern carbohydrate microarray printers are also much more accurate and produce better quality spots. Also, our Institute (Institute of Food Research) is moving to a new building called the Quadram Institute in 2018. It has been decided that our current microarray printer, which is the size of a room, cannot be moved and so this important tool will be lost. The aim of this proposal is to seek funding for a new state-of-the-art carbohydrate microarray printer which will enable our 'Glycomics' research to continue and accelerate in the new QI. Planned Research: Our focus will reflect the strategies of the QI and the BBSRC and will concentrate on plant, yeast and other microbial cell walls relevant to food and health and industrial applications. Using genetic sequence data collected from yeasts (NCYC at IFR/QI)), oilseed rape and wheat (at University of York) and prokaryotic microbes (with University of East Anglia [UEA] and Bactevo Ltd), the array-based research will be targeted towards the use of plant and microbial cell walls for creating biochemicals and 'bioactives' which can improve our health, and understanding how microbes create carbohydrate structures (biofilms) which protect them from current anti-microbials used in medicine. The main areas of research to be explored will include: (a) Revealing the genetic basis for carbohydrate variation (structure and function) in yeasts, continuing and building on current research concerning yeast and other microbe interactions, including those found in the gut; the intention is to understand the behaviour of yeasts and other microbes (also with UEA) which can harm humans; (b) Exploring the genetic basis for carbohydrate variations in structure and functionality in cell walls of plants (with University of York) for production of new biological polymers for biomedical use. For example controlled drug delivery and wound coverings; (c) Unravelling the biology of 'biofilms' from yeasts and other microbes with a focus on medical safety (with industry, the QI and UEA). Future areas of research under consideration include development of other fast and informative tools related to cell wall carbohydrate composition, structure and use.