Roles of Glyco-Redox in Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition and Mesenchymal Epithelial Transition, Cancer, and Various...

Significance: Reduction-oxidation (redox) regulation is an important biological phenomenon that provides a balance between antioxidants and the generation of reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species under pathophysiological conditions. Structural and functional changes in glycans are also important as post-translational modifications of proteins. The integration of glycobiology and redox biology, called glyco-redox has provided new insights into the mechanisms of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)/mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET), cancer, and various diseases including Alzheimer's disease, chronic obstructive lung disease, type 2 diabetes, interstitial pneumonitis, and ulcerative colitis. Recent Advances: Glycans are biosynthesized by specific glycosyltransferases and each glycosyltransferase is either directly or indirectly regulated by oxidative stress and redox regulation. A typical example of glyco-redox is the role of N-glycan referred to as core fucose in superoxide dismutase 3. This glycan was found to be involved in the growth inhibition of cancer cell lines. Critical Issues: The significance of glyco-redox in EMT/MET, cancer, and various diseases was found in major N-glycan branching glycosyltransferases β1,4N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase III, β1,4N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase IV, β1,6N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase V, β1,4-acetylglucosaminyltransfearfse VI, β1,6-acetylglucosaminyltransferase IX, α-1,6 fucosyltransferase, and β-galactoside α-2,6-sialyltransferase 1. Herein, we summarize previous reports on target proteins and how this relates to oxidative stress. We also discuss the products of these processes and their significance to cancer and various diseases. Future Direction: A clear-cut understanding of the significance of glyco-redox in relation to prevention, diagnosis, and therapeutics is required. These studies will open a new road toward glycobiology and redox biology. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 41, 910-926.