Alan Cartmell
@acartmell47.bsky.social
Glycobiology | Structural biology | Enzymology | Host glycans | Sulfation | Gut microbiome | CAZymes!
Reposted by Alan Cartmell
1/10 Genome maintenance by telomerase is a fundamental process in nearly all eukaryotes. But where does it come from?
Today, we report the discovery of telomerase homologs in a family of antiviral RTs, revealing an unexpected evolutionary origin in bacteria.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Today, we report the discovery of telomerase homologs in a family of antiviral RTs, revealing an unexpected evolutionary origin in bacteria.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Antiviral reverse transcriptases reveal the evolutionary origin of telomerase
Defense-associated reverse transcriptases (DRTs) employ diverse and distinctive mechanisms of cDNA synthesis to protect bacteria against viral infection. However, much of DRT family diversity remains ...
www.biorxiv.org
October 17, 2025 at 5:22 PM
1/10 Genome maintenance by telomerase is a fundamental process in nearly all eukaryotes. But where does it come from?
Today, we report the discovery of telomerase homologs in a family of antiviral RTs, revealing an unexpected evolutionary origin in bacteria.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Today, we report the discovery of telomerase homologs in a family of antiviral RTs, revealing an unexpected evolutionary origin in bacteria.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Alan Cartmell
A real triumph for #glycotime and basic research, thanks to the work of Steve Withers and others.🧪
This first of its kind procedure could improve access to donor organs because the donor blood type would no longer matter
go.nature.com/3IToaM3
go.nature.com/3IToaM3
First human transplant of kidney modified to have ‘universal’ blood type
Recipient diagnosed with brain death received a type-O organ, which is compatible with all blood types.
go.nature.com
October 3, 2025 at 1:43 PM
A real triumph for #glycotime and basic research, thanks to the work of Steve Withers and others.🧪
Happy to have this collaborative work out on Biorxiv on how Akkermansia muciniphila deploys it’s carbohydrate sulfatases to metabolise colonic mucin, and that processed glycopeptides/proteins of colonic mucin are a favoured carbon source #glycotime.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
The role of Akkermansia muciniphila sulfatases in colonic mucin utilisation
Akkermansia muciniphila , an obligate mucin degrader, is a major member of the human colonic microbiota and has been associated positive health outcomes. Mucins are complex glycoproteins that contain ...
www.biorxiv.org
September 21, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Happy to have this collaborative work out on Biorxiv on how Akkermansia muciniphila deploys it’s carbohydrate sulfatases to metabolise colonic mucin, and that processed glycopeptides/proteins of colonic mucin are a favoured carbon source #glycotime.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Alan Cartmell
A cool use of DALI/FoldSeek building on new human HG-SNAT protein enabled Bethan Kinniment-Williams & co., to structural unify the TmAT superfamily of membrane-bound acyltransferases first proposed by Milton Saier Jnr in TCDB. @jnb-lab.bsky.social
www.jbc.org/article/S002...
www.jbc.org/article/S002...
Structural unification of diverse transmembrane acyltransferases reveals a conserved fold for the Transmembrane Acyl Transferase (TmAT) superfamily
The movement of acyl groups across biological membranes is essential for many cellular
processes. One major family of proteins catalysing this reaction are the acyl transferase
family 3 (AT3) proteins...
www.jbc.org
August 12, 2025 at 8:16 PM
A cool use of DALI/FoldSeek building on new human HG-SNAT protein enabled Bethan Kinniment-Williams & co., to structural unify the TmAT superfamily of membrane-bound acyltransferases first proposed by Milton Saier Jnr in TCDB. @jnb-lab.bsky.social
www.jbc.org/article/S002...
www.jbc.org/article/S002...
Our latest work on rhamnogalacturonan ii degradation (RGII): Functional and structural characterisation of GH139 that removes O2 methylated fucose from RGII #glycotime
doi.org/10.1016/j.jb...
doi.org/10.1016/j.jb...
Redirecting
doi.org
July 16, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Our latest work on rhamnogalacturonan ii degradation (RGII): Functional and structural characterisation of GH139 that removes O2 methylated fucose from RGII #glycotime
doi.org/10.1016/j.jb...
doi.org/10.1016/j.jb...
Happy to have this work on the effectiveness of sulfamate based inhibitors on carbohydrate sulfatases out in @pnas.org www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas. #glycotime
The summary is: Current sulfatase inhibitor technology is not effective on S1 carbohydrate sulfatases of the human colonic microbiota.
The summary is: Current sulfatase inhibitor technology is not effective on S1 carbohydrate sulfatases of the human colonic microbiota.
PNAS
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), a peer reviewed journal of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) - an authoritative source of high-impact, original research that broadly spans...
www.pnas.org
July 10, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Happy to have this work on the effectiveness of sulfamate based inhibitors on carbohydrate sulfatases out in @pnas.org www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas. #glycotime
The summary is: Current sulfatase inhibitor technology is not effective on S1 carbohydrate sulfatases of the human colonic microbiota.
The summary is: Current sulfatase inhibitor technology is not effective on S1 carbohydrate sulfatases of the human colonic microbiota.
Reposted by Alan Cartmell
By deep characterisation of 186 N-glycan standards, we @thencfg.bsky.social have made the most comprehensive targeted LC-MS glycomic assay to date.
Non-reduced native glycan analysis is key.
We hope this enables anyone with QqQ and interest in #glycotime to measure specific N-glycan structures.
Non-reduced native glycan analysis is key.
We hope this enables anyone with QqQ and interest in #glycotime to measure specific N-glycan structures.
June 10, 2025 at 1:11 PM
By deep characterisation of 186 N-glycan standards, we @thencfg.bsky.social have made the most comprehensive targeted LC-MS glycomic assay to date.
Non-reduced native glycan analysis is key.
We hope this enables anyone with QqQ and interest in #glycotime to measure specific N-glycan structures.
Non-reduced native glycan analysis is key.
We hope this enables anyone with QqQ and interest in #glycotime to measure specific N-glycan structures.
Reposted by Alan Cartmell
PhD available with me & Paul James looking for exciting new enzymes - www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
New lysins for medically and environmentally important Mycobacteriales at Newcastle University on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - New lysins for medically and environmentally important Mycobacteriales at Newcastle University, listed on FindAPhD.com
www.findaphd.com
February 27, 2025 at 6:12 PM
PhD available with me & Paul James looking for exciting new enzymes - www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Reposted by Alan Cartmell
Happy to share this new #glycotime work with collaborator Tony Wyss-Coray, led by grad student Sophia Shi, mucin loss at the BBB is associated with aging and cognitive decline, can be reversed by restoration with with gene therapy. Aging is a mucinopathy!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Glycocalyx dysregulation impairs blood–brain barrier in ageing and disease - Nature
Disruption of mucin-domain glycoprotein expression and function in the endothelial glycocalyx are associated with ageing and Alzheimer’s disease, leading to dysregulated blood–brain barrier function.
www.nature.com
February 26, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Happy to share this new #glycotime work with collaborator Tony Wyss-Coray, led by grad student Sophia Shi, mucin loss at the BBB is associated with aging and cognitive decline, can be reversed by restoration with with gene therapy. Aging is a mucinopathy!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Alan Cartmell
Our new paper in print describes a new approach: release and analysis of N-glycans in less than 24 hours. A perfect approach for those that are glycan-curious as it does not require changing any of your proteomics buffers! 1/5
#glycotime #teammassspec
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
#glycotime #teammassspec
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
Swift Universal Glycan Acquisition (SUGA) Enables Quantitative Glycan Profiling across Diverse Sample Types
The ability to rapidly analyze complex mixtures of glycans derived from glycoproteins is important, but techniques are often laborious and require multiple glycan derivatization steps. Here, we descri...
pubs.acs.org
February 21, 2025 at 6:55 AM
Our new paper in print describes a new approach: release and analysis of N-glycans in less than 24 hours. A perfect approach for those that are glycan-curious as it does not require changing any of your proteomics buffers! 1/5
#glycotime #teammassspec
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
#glycotime #teammassspec
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
Happy to have this deep dive into polysaccharide lyase family 33 out:
www.pnas.org/doi/suppl/10...
We define features driving substrate specificity, catalytic mechanism, and evolutionary links with multiple lyases and epimerises #glycotime @PNASNews
www.pnas.org/doi/suppl/10...
We define features driving substrate specificity, catalytic mechanism, and evolutionary links with multiple lyases and epimerises #glycotime @PNASNews
Bacterial polysaccharide lyase family 33: Specificity from an evolutionarily conserved binding tunnel | PNAS
Acidic glycans are essential for the biology of multicellular eukaryotes. To utilize
them, microbial life including symbionts and pathogens has evo...
www.pnas.org
February 12, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Happy to have this deep dive into polysaccharide lyase family 33 out:
www.pnas.org/doi/suppl/10...
We define features driving substrate specificity, catalytic mechanism, and evolutionary links with multiple lyases and epimerises #glycotime @PNASNews
www.pnas.org/doi/suppl/10...
We define features driving substrate specificity, catalytic mechanism, and evolutionary links with multiple lyases and epimerises #glycotime @PNASNews
Reposted by Alan Cartmell
ÅNGSTRÖM-RESOLUTION IMAGING OF CELL-SURFACE GLYCANS🍬🍬🍬
For the first time, we are able to image the molecular architecture of the glycocalyx at Ångström resolution. A dream come true!
Read the preprint: biorxiv.org/content/10.110…
And find our tweetorial below#glycotimeme
For the first time, we are able to image the molecular architecture of the glycocalyx at Ångström resolution. A dream come true!
Read the preprint: biorxiv.org/content/10.110…
And find our tweetorial below#glycotimeme
February 10, 2025 at 8:36 AM
ÅNGSTRÖM-RESOLUTION IMAGING OF CELL-SURFACE GLYCANS🍬🍬🍬
For the first time, we are able to image the molecular architecture of the glycocalyx at Ångström resolution. A dream come true!
Read the preprint: biorxiv.org/content/10.110…
And find our tweetorial below#glycotimeme
For the first time, we are able to image the molecular architecture of the glycocalyx at Ångström resolution. A dream come true!
Read the preprint: biorxiv.org/content/10.110…
And find our tweetorial below#glycotimeme
I have a PhD on how human gut bacteria feed off host glycans and produce metabolites that alter host cell behaviour #glycotime
findaphd.com
PhD Programmes, Research Projects & Studentships in the UK & Europe
FindAPhD is a comprehensive guide to PhD studentships and postgraduate research degrees
findaphd.com
January 31, 2025 at 10:21 AM
I have a PhD on how human gut bacteria feed off host glycans and produce metabolites that alter host cell behaviour #glycotime
findaphd.com