Glycan
Glycan is a complex biomolecule composed of a chain of carbohydrate residues bonded covalently. Glycans play a crucial role in various biological functions, including cell-cell interaction, immune response, and pathogen recognition. They are found in all living organisms and are essential components of cell membranes, proteins, and lipids.
Structure[edit | edit source]
Glycans are composed of monosaccharide units linked together by glycosidic bonds. The structure of a glycan can be linear or branched, and it can vary in terms of the number and type of monosaccharide units, the length of the chain, and the type of glycosidic bond. The most common monosaccharides found in glycans are glucose, galactose, mannose, fucose, and sialic acid.
Function[edit | edit source]
Glycans play a crucial role in various biological functions. They are involved in cell-cell interaction, immune response, and pathogen recognition. Glycans attached to proteins (glycoproteins) or lipids (glycolipids) can act as receptors for pathogens, allowing the immune system to recognize and eliminate them. Glycans also play a role in cell adhesion, cell signaling, and the modulation of protein function.
Types of Glycans[edit | edit source]
There are several types of glycans, including N-linked glycans, O-linked glycans, and glycosaminoglycans. N-linked glycans are attached to the amide nitrogen of asparagine residues in proteins, while O-linked glycans are attached to the hydroxyl oxygen of serine or threonine residues. Glycosaminoglycans are long, unbranched polysaccharides composed of repeating disaccharide units.
Glycan Biosynthesis[edit | edit source]
Glycan biosynthesis involves the action of various enzymes, including glycosyltransferases, which catalyze the formation of glycosidic bonds, and glycosidases, which catalyze the hydrolysis of these bonds. The biosynthesis of glycans is a complex process that is tightly regulated by the cell.
Glycan Analysis[edit | edit source]
The analysis of glycans is a challenging task due to their structural complexity and diversity. Various techniques, including mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and high-performance liquid chromatography, are used for glycan analysis.
See Also[edit | edit source]
| Glycan Resources | |
|---|---|
|
 |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
