TY - JOUR
T1 - Biosynthesis and function of β 1,6 branched mucin-type glycans
AU - Beum, P. V.
AU - Cheng, P. W.
PY - 2001
Y1 - 2001
N2 - The contribution of carbohydrate structure to biomolecular, cellular, and organismal function is well-established, but has not yet received the attention it deserves, perhaps due to the complexity of the structures involved and to a lack of simple experimental methods for relating structure and function. In particular, β1,6 GlcNAc branching plays a key functional role in processes ranging from inflammation and immune system function to tumor cell metastasis. For instance, synthesis of the core 2 β1,6 branched structure in the mucin glycan chain by C2GnT enables the expression of functional structures at the termini of polylactosamine chains, such as blood group antigens and sialyl Lewis x. Also, IGnT can create multiple branches on the polylactosamine chain, which may serve as a mechanism for amplifying the functional potency of cell surface glycoproteins and glycolipids. The family of enzymes which creates β1,6 branched structure in mucin glycans is proving to be quite complex, since multiple isoforms appear to exist for these enzymes, and some of the enzymes are adept at forming more than one type of β1,6 branched structure, as in the case of C2GnT-M. Furthermore, the enzymes do not appear to be restricted to acting on mucin-type acceptor structures, but are able to act on glycolipid structures as well. Much remains to be learned regarding the specific biological niche filled by each of these enzymes and how their activities complement one another, as well as the manner in which the activities of these enzymes are regulated in the cell.
AB - The contribution of carbohydrate structure to biomolecular, cellular, and organismal function is well-established, but has not yet received the attention it deserves, perhaps due to the complexity of the structures involved and to a lack of simple experimental methods for relating structure and function. In particular, β1,6 GlcNAc branching plays a key functional role in processes ranging from inflammation and immune system function to tumor cell metastasis. For instance, synthesis of the core 2 β1,6 branched structure in the mucin glycan chain by C2GnT enables the expression of functional structures at the termini of polylactosamine chains, such as blood group antigens and sialyl Lewis x. Also, IGnT can create multiple branches on the polylactosamine chain, which may serve as a mechanism for amplifying the functional potency of cell surface glycoproteins and glycolipids. The family of enzymes which creates β1,6 branched structure in mucin glycans is proving to be quite complex, since multiple isoforms appear to exist for these enzymes, and some of the enzymes are adept at forming more than one type of β1,6 branched structure, as in the case of C2GnT-M. Furthermore, the enzymes do not appear to be restricted to acting on mucin-type acceptor structures, but are able to act on glycolipid structures as well. Much remains to be learned regarding the specific biological niche filled by each of these enzymes and how their activities complement one another, as well as the manner in which the activities of these enzymes are regulated in the cell.
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U2 - 10.1007/978-1-4615-1267-7_19
DO - 10.1007/978-1-4615-1267-7_19
M3 - Article
C2 - 14533804
AN - SCOPUS:0034955109
SN - 0065-2598
VL - 491
SP - 279
EP - 312
JO - Advances in experimental medicine and biology
JF - Advances in experimental medicine and biology
ER -