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Glycosylation in Stem Cell Biology
Chika Ogura1, Shoko Nishihara2,3
1Laboratory of Cell Biology, Department of Science and Engineering for Sustainable Innovation, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Soka University, Tokyo, Japan.
Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology
|May 5, 2025
Summary
Cell-surface glycans and intracellular O-linked N-acetylglucosamine are crucial for regulating the pluripotency and differentiation of embryonic stem cells. Understanding these glycan roles is vital for stem cell research and clinical applications.
Area of Science:
- Stem cell biology
- Glycobiology
- Developmental biology
Background:
- Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are pluripotent cells derived from blastocysts, capable of differentiating into all adult cell types.
- Pluripotent stem cells exist in naïve, formative, and primed states, with transitions regulated by complex molecular mechanisms.
- Cell-surface and intracellular glycans play critical roles in modulating ESC functions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the multifaceted roles of glycans in maintaining stemness and directing differentiation in pluripotent stem cells.
- To highlight the importance of cell-surface glycans in mediating crucial cellular interactions and signaling pathways.
- To discuss the epigenetic regulation of glycan structures by complexes like PRC2 during stem cell state transitions.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on glycan functions in pluripotent stem cells.
- Analysis of glycan involvement in ligand-receptor, cell-cell, and cell-extracellular matrix interactions.
- Examination of intracellular glycan modifications, such as O-linked N-acetylglucosamine, and their regulatory impact.
Main Results:
- Cell-surface glycans act as key modulators, binding to signaling ligands (e.g., Wnt, FGFs, BMPs) and influencing tissue-specific differentiation.
- Intracellular O-linked N-acetylglucosamine regulates core transcription factors, epigenetic modifications, and protein signaling pathways essential for stemness.
- Glycan structures are developmentally regulated and epigenetically controlled by the polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) across different stem cell states.
Conclusions:
- Glycans are indispensable regulators of stemness and differentiation in both mouse and human pluripotent stem cells.
- A comprehensive understanding of glycan biology in ESCs is essential for advancing regenerative medicine and basic stem cell science.
- Targeting glycan pathways offers potential for novel therapeutic strategies in stem cell applications.
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