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Introduction to glycopathology: the concept, the tools and the perspectives
Hans-Joachim Gabius1, Klaus Kayser
1Chair of Physiological Chemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Veterinärstr 13, D-80539, Munich, Germany. gabius@tiph.vetmed.uni-muenchen.de.
Diagnostic Pathology
|January 22, 2014
Summary
Sugars, or glycans, possess a vast coding capacity, acting as biological information carriers. This review explores methods for detecting these glycans and their receptors, highlighting their role in disease and potential as biomarkers.
Area of Science:
- Glycoscience
- Molecular Biology
- Biomedical Research
Background:
- Biological information flow is crucial for basic science and medical applications.
- Glycoconjugates, formed by attaching sugars (glycans) to proteins/lipids, play a significant role.
- Glycans possess a coding capacity far exceeding nucleotides or amino acids, suggesting their role in information storage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review cyto- and histochemical methods for exploring information storage and transfer via the 'sugar code'.
- To illustrate the application of these tools in histopathology, focusing on galectins.
- To introduce fundamental principles of the sugar code and inspire research.
Main Methods:
- Cyto- and histochemical detection of cellular glycan profiles using sugar receptors (e.g., antibodies).
- Analysis of glycan epitopes as ligands for endogenous receptors (tissue lectins).
- Mapping the presence of glycan receptors.
Main Results:
- Glycans function as information carriers with high coding capacity.
- Dynamic changes in cellular glycans (glycome) can be detected, yielding 'molecular fingerprints'.
- Glycan-lectin interactions mediate biological effects, such as growth regulation, and are implicated in autoimmune diseases and cancer.
Conclusions:
- Glycans have the potential to serve as a new class of functional biomarkers.
- Understanding the 'sugar code' is essential for advancing biological and medical research.
- Further investigation into glycan-receptor interactions is warranted for diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
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