Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 3, 2026
05:19
Rapid Glyco-Qualitative Assessment of Recombinant Proteins Using a Fully Automated System
Published on: June 28, 2024
From lectin structure to functional glycomics: principles of the sugar code
Hans-Joachim Gabius1, Sabine André, Jesús Jiménez-Barbero
1Institute of Physiological Chemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, München, Germany. gabius@tiph.vetmed.uni-muenchen.de
Trends in Biochemical Sciences
|April 5, 2011
Summary
Lectins are proteins that bind carbohydrates. Understanding their specificity for cellular glycans is key to the
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Glycobiology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins distinct from antibodies and sensor/transport proteins.
- The 'sugar code' framework highlights the functional importance of lectin-glycan interactions.
- Lectins exhibit diverse structures, including over a dozen folds and varied binding site architectures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explain the exquisite target specificity of endogenous lectins for cellular glycans.
- To systematically dissect lectin-glycan affinity regulation into six distinct levels.
Main Methods:
- Systematic dissection of affinity regulation into six levels.
- Strategic combination of experimental methods to monitor lectin-glycan interplay.
Main Results:
- Identification of six levels of lectin-glycan affinity regulation.
- Demonstration of how diverse lectin structures contribute to sugar-binding capacity.
Conclusions:
- Understanding lectin-glycan interactions is crucial for deciphering the 'sugar code'.
- A multi-method experimental approach is promising for elucidating lectin specificity and affinity regulation.
Related Concept Videos
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...
01:24Oligosaccharide 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...
01:14Glycocalyx and its Functions
The glycocalyx is a carbohydrate-rich, fuzzy-appearing layer on the outer surface of the cell membrane. It is highly hydrophilic, because of this it attracts large amounts of water to the cell's surface. This aids the cell's interaction with the watery environment and also helps it to obtain substances dissolved in the water. It is also important for cell identification, self/non-self determination, and embryonic development and is used in cell-to-cell attachments to form tissues.
Components of...
Components of...
01:30Membrane Carbohydrates
The plasma membrane is a dynamic barrier composed of lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates. It is the epicenter of many cellular processes required for cell growth and survival. Carbohydrates have unique structural and chemical properties that help the plasma membrane to carry out its functions effectively.
Membrane carbohydrates do not have any hydrophobic region and are exclusively located on the cell's outer surface. The addition of sugar molecules or glycosylation of proteins happens in...
Membrane carbohydrates do not have any hydrophobic region and are exclusively located on the cell's outer surface. The addition of sugar molecules or glycosylation of proteins happens in...
01:30Membrane Carbohydrates
The plasma membrane is a dynamic barrier composed of lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates. It is the epicenter of many cellular processes required for cell growth and survival. Carbohydrates have unique structural and chemical properties that help the plasma membrane to carry out its functions effectively.
Membrane carbohydrates do not have any hydrophobic region and are exclusively located on the cell's outer surface. The addition of sugar molecules or glycosylation of proteins happens in...
Membrane carbohydrates do not have any hydrophobic region and are exclusively located on the cell's outer surface. The addition of sugar molecules or glycosylation of proteins happens in...
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,...