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Catherine E. Costello
Departments of Biochemistry and Biophysics
Boston University School of Medicine

"Challenges, Adventures and Opportunities in Glycobiology"

Abstract:

In addition to their roles as integral components of individual cells and whole organisms that influence and regulate their interactions with one another and with the environment, glycans and glycoconjugates have importance as potential drugs and adjuvants. Cell-surface carbohydrates and carbohydrate receptors provide critical signals that govern expansion of tumors and activation of growth factors. Assembly of multimers and aggregates of proteins and other biopolymers is often dependent on the glycosylation status of the components. Changes in glycosylation are therefore important features of development, disease and ageing. Structural studies of glycans, however, present difficult challenges due to the frequent occurrence of labile substituents, high degrees of branching and closely related structures, among which minor components that regulate critical activities often undergo temporal variation. We are therefore developing new and improved methods, centered on mass spectrometry, for detailed structural determinations of glycans and glycoconjugates that are present as components of complex mixtures. This short review of investigations into structures, interactions and biological activities is intended to stimulate more adventurers to take up the challenges and excitement of Glycobiology.