Adelaide Uni/Agilent Technologies complex carbohydrate collaboration lab opens

The first comprehensive facility for the analysis of complex carbohydrates (‘glycans’) in the Southern Hemisphere has opened at the University of Adelaide’s Waite campus.

The lab, a collaboration between the University of Adelaide and Agilent Technologies Australia, will focus on the structure and function of glycans (glycoscience). Typical projects will include the development of baby’s milk formula so it more closely matches breast milk, potatoes with better starch profiles and immune system additives.

“Complex carbohydrates are critical in every area of biology,” said Professor Vincent Bulone, director of Adelaide Glycomics and director of the ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Cell Walls. “But beyond their important role in living organisms they can be exploited in many products. There is hardly a moment in our daily life where we are not exposed to glycans.

“These molecules are the most complex in nature and the least understood. Until now, we haven’t had a facility in Australia of this scale and breadth capable of the required comprehensive analysis of structure and function. Adelaide Glycomics aims to fill this gap.”

One example of work that may take place in the laboratory is analysing starch in potatoes to determine the structure and relative proportions of different starch types in potatoes and what controls these proportions, with the aim of producing low-GI potatoes through plant breeding.

Examples from many other areas of potential benefit include: development of biological-based materials for drug delivery systems and cosmetics; helping control the composition and quality of wines; improved understanding of the causes of diseases and developing diagnostic tools; and new strategies for eco-friendly waste management.

Adelaide Glycomics will serve as a hub for local, national and international collaborations and will also offer training workshops and on-site demonstrations for researchers and technical staff. Highly qualified analysts and state-of-the-art instrumentation, made available through the collaboration with Agilent Technologies, will support fundamental and applied research in glycoscience and the development of new applications for a range of industries.