Carbohydrates are a major class of biological macromolecules that are important in many cellular
processes, including adhesion, motility, immune response, and pathogen interaction (1–4).
Glycosylation, which occurs on both proteins and lipids, is more prevalent than phosphorylation,
methylation, or acetylation (5). It is estimated that at least 50% of all proteins are glycosylated (6).
Aberrant glycosylation has been implicated in disease, most strikingly in a class of diverse diseases
collectively referred to as congenital disorders of glycosylation. These diseases involve genetic
mutations in N-linked glycosylation pathways that result, in most cases, in some form of reduced
glycosylation in a tissue. Symptoms are generally severe and can include seizure events, growth
abnormalities, and mild to severe mental retardation (7). Alterations in glycosylation have also
been observed in numerous other pathological states, including inflammation and cancer (8). For
example, a recent study of messengerRNAexpression patterns in human cancer patients suggested
that the expression of a specific α-2,6-sialyltransferase increases metastasis from the breast to the
brain by increasing cellular adhesion to brain tissue. These observations, confirmed by testing in
mouse models (9), illustrate the importance of studying glycosylation.
Carbohydrates are a major class of biological macromolecules that are important in many cellular
processes, including adhesion, motility, immune response, and pathogen interaction (1–4).
Glycosylation, which occurs on both proteins and lipids, is more prevalent than phosphorylation,
methylation, or acetylation (5). It is estimated that at least 50% of all proteins are glycosylated (6).
Aberrant glycosylation has been implicated in disease, most strikingly in a class of diverse diseases
collectively referred to as congenital disorders of glycosylation. These diseases involve genetic
mutations in N-linked glycosylation pathways that result, in most cases, in some form of reduced
glycosylation in a tissue. Symptoms are generally severe and can include seizure events, growth
abnormalities, and mild to severe mental retardation (7). Alterations in glycosylation have also
been observed in numerous other pathological states, including inflammation and cancer (8). For
example, a recent study of messengerRNAexpression patterns in human cancer patients suggested
that the expression of a specific α-2,6-sialyltransferase increases metastasis from the breast to the
brain by increasing cellular adhesion to brain tissue. These observations, confirmed by testing in
mouse models (9), illustrate the importance of studying glycosylation.
การแปล กรุณารอสักครู่..
