Abstract

Collision-Induced Dissociation (CID) has become an indispensable tool in the analysis of complex carbohydrates, particularly glycans and glycoproteins, by mass spectrometry. CID enables the fragmentation of ions into smaller, more manageable pieces, allowing researchers to interpret and understand the structural composition of carbohydrates in biological systems. Glycans and glycoproteins are essential components in cellular processes, influencing protein folding, recognition, and signaling. Due to their complexity, the analysis of these structures often requires advanced techniques like CID to gain insights into their molecular architecture. This article explores the principles of CID, its applications in glycan and glycoprotein analysis, the challenges associated with analyzing carbohydrates using this technique, and the advancements that have been made to improve its efficacy. We will also discuss future prospects for CID in the realm of glycomics and glycoproteomics.