Inhibition of Mammalian Glycoprotein YKL-40: IDENTIFICATION OF THE PHYSIOLOGICAL LIGAND.

ABSTRACT: YKL-40 is a mammalian glycoprotein associated with progression, severity, and prognosis of chronic inflammatory diseases and a multitude of cancers. Despite this well documented association, identification of the lectin's physiological ligand and, accordingly, biological function has proven experimentally difficult. YKL-40 has been shown to bind chito-oligosaccharides; however, the production of chitin by the human body has not yet been documented. Possible alternative ligands include proteoglycans, polysaccharides, and fibers like collagen, all of which makeup the extracellular matrix. It is likely that YKL-40 is interacting with these alternative polysaccharides or proteins within the body, extending its function to cell biological roles such as mediating cellular receptors and cell adhe

SUBMITTER: Kognole AA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5314161 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature