Glycocalyx crowding with mucin mimetics strengthens binding of soluble and virus-associated lectins to host cell glycan receptors.

ABSTRACT: Membrane-associated mucins protect epithelial cell surfaces against pathogenic threats by serving as nonproductive decoys that capture infectious agents and clear them from the cell surface and by erecting a physical barrier that restricts their access to target receptors on host cells. However, the mechanisms through which mucins function are still poorly defined because of a limited repertoire of tools available for tailoring their structure and composition in living cells with molecular precision. Using synthetic glycopolymer mimetics of mucins, we modeled the mucosal glycocalyx on red blood cells (RBCs) and evaluated its influence on lectin (SNA) and virus (H1N1) adhesion to endogenous sialic acid receptors. The glycocalyx inhibited the rate of SNA and H1N1 adhesion in a size- and dens

SUBMITTER: Honigfort DJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8501829 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature