Emerging principles for the therapeutic exploitation of glycosylation.

Abstract

Glycosylation plays a key role in a wide range of biological processes. Specific modification to a glycan's structure can directly modulate its biological function. Glycans are not only essential to glycoprotein folding, cellular homeostasis, and immune regulation but are involved in multiple disease conditions. An increased molecular and structural understanding of the mechanistic role that glycans play in these pathological processes has driven the development of therapeutics and illuminated novel targets for drug design. This knowledge has enabled the treatment of metabolic disorders and the development of antivirals and shaped cancer and viral vaccine strategies. Furthermore, an understanding of glycosylation has led to the development of specific drug glycoforms, for example, monoclonal antibodies, with enhanced potency.

• Authors: Martin Dalziel, Max Crispin, Christopher N Scanlan, Nicole Zitzmann, Raymond A Dwek
• Journal: Science (New York, N.Y.) (Science) Vol. 343 Issue 6166 Pg. 1235681 (Jan 03 2014) ISSN: 1095-9203 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24385630 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Monoclonal
• Antiviral Agents
• Cancer Vaccines
• Glycolipids
• Glycoproteins
• Polysaccharides
• Viral Vaccines

Topics

• Antibodies, Monoclonal (chemistry)
• Antiviral Agents (chemistry)
• Cancer Vaccines (chemistry)
• Drug Design
• Glycolipids (chemistry, metabolism, therapeutic use)
• Glycoproteins (chemistry, metabolism, therapeutic use)
• Glycosylation
• HIV Infections (drug therapy)
• Humans
• Metabolic Diseases (drug therapy, metabolism)
• Neoplasms (drug therapy)
• Polysaccharides (biosynthesis, chemistry, classification)
• Viral Vaccines (chemistry)