Eukaryotic protein glycosylation: a primer for histochemists and cell biologists.

ABSTRACT: Proteins undergo co- and posttranslational modifications, and their glycosylation is the most frequent and structurally variegated type. Histochemically, the detection of glycan presence has first been performed by stains. The availability of carbohydrate-specific tools (lectins, monoclonal antibodies) has revolutionized glycophenotyping, allowing monitoring of distinct structures. The different types of protein glycosylation in Eukaryotes are described. Following this educational survey, examples where known biological function is related to the glycan structures carried by proteins are given. In particular, mucins and their glycosylation patterns are considered as instructive proof-of-principle case. The tissue and cellular location of glycoprotein biosynthesis and metabolism is reviewed

SUBMITTER: Corfield A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5306191 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature