Mass Photometry to dissect single molecule dynamics of functional glycosaminoglycan: protein oligomeric complexes

Heparin is a drug used worldwide as an anticoagulant. Heparin can have a life-threatening side effect of heparin induced thrombocytopenia, which is caused by heparin forming large complexes with other proteins in the body. Mass Photometry is a technique that is able to perform single molecule imagining in real time, therefore it is possible to determine the size of the heparin: protein complex and enable detailed insights into molecule by molecule self-assembly. In Copenhagen Centre for Glycomics (CCG) we are making strides to produce a cell-based heparin without the heparin induced thrombocytopenia side effect. Mass Photometry and CCG resources will enable us to validate and confirm that cell-based heparin does not have the ability to form this life-threatening side effect.