Context-specific target definition in influenza a virus hemagglutinin-glycan receptor interactions.

ABSTRACT: Protein-glycan interactions are important regulators of a variety of biological processes, ranging from immune recognition to anticoagulation. An important area of active research is directed toward understanding the role of host cell surface glycans as recognition sites for pathogen protein receptors. Recognition of cell surface glycans is a widely employed strategy for a variety of pathogens, including bacteria, parasites, and viruses. We present here a representative example of such an interaction: the binding of influenza A hemagglutinin (HA) to specific sialylated glycans on the cell surface of human upper airway epithelial cells, which initiates the infection cycle. We detail a generalizable strategy to understand the nature of protein-glycan interactions both structurally and bioche

SUBMITTER: Shriver Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3733240 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature