Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2026
11:21
Bioinformatics Resources for the Study of Glycan-Mediated Protein Interactions
Published on: January 20, 2022
Therapeutically targeting protein-glycan interactions.
British Journal of Pharmacology
|April 18, 2009
Summary
Glycosylation, the attachment of sugar chains to proteins, impacts many diseases. New research highlights targeting these protein-glycan interactions for novel therapeutics.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Glycobiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Glycosylation is a common protein modification, crucial for biological processes.
- O-linked glycans, such as glycosaminoglycans, significantly influence inflammation, coagulation, cancer, and viral infections.
- Protein-glycan interactions modulate protein structure and function, impacting numerous (patho-)biological processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview of current therapeutic approaches targeting protein-glycan interactions.
- To discuss the advantages and disadvantages of these novel therapeutic strategies.
- To highlight the potential of pharmacologically interfering with protein-glycan interactions.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on glycosylation and protein-glycan interactions.
- Analysis of therapeutic strategies targeting these interactions.
- Discussion of recent advancements in '-ome' sciences (proteomics, glycomics).
Main Results:
- Protein-glycan interactions are complex but increasingly targetable.
- Novel inhibitors are progressing through preclinical and clinical studies.
- The antithrombin III-glycan interaction serves as a long-standing example of successful targeting.
Conclusions:
- Targeting protein-glycan interactions offers significant therapeutic potential.
- Advancements in glycomics and proteomics facilitate the development of new drugs.
- Pharmacological interference with these interactions is a promising area for future medicine.
Related Concept Videos
01:05Proteoglycans
Glycans, a class of complex heterogeneous molecules, can be covalently attached to proteins to form glycosylated proteins that regulate various physiological and pathological processes. Glycosylated proteins or glycoproteins comprise N-linked and O-linked oligosaccharides. O-glycosylation is the most common type of protein glycosylation. Here, glycans attach to the oxygen atom of the hydroxyl groups of Serine or Threonine residues. O-linked glycosylation occurs later in protein processing,...
01:25Protein Glycosylation
Glycosylation, the most common post-translational modification for proteins, serves diverse functions. Adding sugars to proteins makes the proteins more resistant to proteolytic digestion. Glycosylated proteins can act as markers and receptors to promote cell-cell adhesion. Additionally, they have many essential quality control functions in the cell, such as correct protein folding and facilitating transport of misfolded proteins to the cytosol, which can be degraded.
Glycosylation occurs in...
Glycosylation occurs in...
01:26Targets for Drug Action: Overview
Drugs target macromolecules to modify ongoing cellular processes. Primary drug targets include receptors, ion channels, transporters, and enzymes.
Receptors are either membrane-spanning or intracellular proteins, which upon binding a ligand, get activated and transmit the signal downstream to elicit a response. Drugs bind receptors, either mimicking the action of endogenous ligands or blocking the receptor activity to bring about a modified response. Nearly 35% of approved drugs target the G...
Receptors are either membrane-spanning or intracellular proteins, which upon binding a ligand, get activated and transmit the signal downstream to elicit a response. Drugs bind receptors, either mimicking the action of endogenous ligands or blocking the receptor activity to bring about a modified response. Nearly 35% of approved drugs target the G...
02:57Targeted Cancer Therapies
The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
01:27Transducer Mechanism: Enzyme-Linked Receptors
Enzyme-linked receptors are cell-surface receptors acting as an enzyme or associating with an enzyme intracellularly. They make excellent drug targets. Drugs can bind to the extracellular ligand-binding domain or directly affect their enzymatic domain and alter their activity.
Major types that are helpful drug targets include:
Major types that are helpful drug targets include:
01:24Oligosaccharide Assembly
Protein glycosylation starts in the ER lumen and continues in the Golgi apparatus. Glycosyltransferases catalyze the addition of sugar molecules or glycosylation of proteins. Usually, these enzymes add sugars to the hydroxyl groups of selected serine or threonine residues to form O-linked glycans or the amino groups of asparagine residues to form N-linked glycans. Different positions on the same polypeptide chain can contain differently linked glycans.
Multiple sugar molecules that may or may...
Multiple sugar molecules that may or may...