Glycoproteins And Disease

The elucidation during the latter half of the 20th century of the mechanisms by which information flows from nucleic acids to proteins has completely changed the face of biological research. Many diseases are caused by abnormalities in control mechanisms which are not immediately essential for life itself but which maintain the normal social behavior of differentiated cells in multicellular organisms. The complex sugar chains of glycoproteins and glycolipids are believed to play important roles in the control of cellular functions and in recognition between the cell and its cellular and fluid environment. Investigations into the abnormalities of complex sugar chain assembly are expected to yield an important new underatanding of the etiology and pathogenesis of human diseases. This volume discusses several representative diseases which emphasize the current status of glycopathology, and will stimulate further research in this exciting field.

Diverse alterations of glycosylation occur in diseases such as cancer, metastasis, leukemia, inflammatory and other diseases. The glycosylation abnormalities found in disease are the result of complex rearrangements of the oligosaccharide assembly by glycosyltransferases. This volume reviews several mechanisms that may underly the extremely complex alterations in disease. Disease specific glycosylation may contribute to the disease process by altering cellular functions, or may be exploited therapeutically. Specific therapy may be aimed at correcting glycosylation abnormalities based on knowledge of the mechanisms leading to the disease phenotype and the three-dimensional interactions between carbohydrates and carbohydrate-binding molecules.

Sugar chains (glycans) are often attached to proteins and lipids and have multiple roles in the organization and function of all organisms. "Essentials of Glycobiology" describes their biogenesis and function and offers a useful gateway to the understanding of glycans.

This book contains the Proceedings of the Sixth Jenner Glycobiology and Medicine Symposium, held 14-17 September, 2002, in Seillac, France. This book highlights the latest developments in glycoimmunology, including glycosylation-dependent bacterial and viral infections, lectin and proteoglycan-dependent interactions in leukocyte homing processes to lymphoid tissues and inflamed tissues, congenital defects in glycosylation of glycoproteins and glycolipids, and the role of carbohydrates in tumour development and neuropathology, including Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

Protein-carbohydrate interactions is an exciting area of research with huge potential for development and exploration. These interactions are both widespread and diverse in biological processes and many play a crucial role in cellular recognition, attachment and adhesion. This is particularly true for host-pathogen interactions that lead to infectious diseases; as the surfaces of cells and pathogens display complex carbohydrate structures and carbohydrate binding proteins on their surface. Protein-Carbohydrate Interactions in Infectious Disease is part of the Biomolecular Science Series and provides a comprehensive overview of the subject, with contributions from leading experts in the field. Beginning with a general introduction, subsequent sections include: Atomic basis of protein-carbohydrate interactions, Structures and roles of Pseudomonas areuginosa lectins, Protein-carbohydrate interactions in enterobacterial infections, Retrocyclins: miniature lectins with potent antiviral activity, C-type lectin receptors that regulate pathogen recognition through the recognition of carbohydrates, Synthetic carbohydrate-based anti-malarial vaccines and glycobiology. With full colour throughout and an extensive bibliography this book is ideal for researchers interested in the area.

Part I covers modern advances in the determination of glycoprotein structure and in the biosynthesis of mammalian, bacterial, yeast, plant and insect glycoproteins. There are also two chapters on functional aspects (glycoprotein hormones and collagens). The content of the volume is very comprehensive in that, most contributors have focussed on discussing, in depth, the wealth of most recent advances in their field, and referring to previous reviews of older work for background information. This method can effectively produce a very wide subject coverage in a smaller number of chapters/volumes. The volume is an important information source for all glycobiologist researchers (senior investigators, post-doctoral fellows and graduate students), and as a good, comprehensive, reference text for scientists working in the life sciences.