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Glycobiology
The study of the structure, chemistry, biochemistry and biological function of complex carbohydrates.
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2. Classes of Biochemicals
Lipids, fats, isoprenoids, terpenes
Structural, information, energy source
Proteins (high information content by molecular recognition of structures in defined binding sites).
Structural, informational, catalytic (enzymes), energy source when converted to CHO or lipid
Nucleic acids
information, structural, enzymes)(energy-ATP)
Carbohydrates (CHO)
Structural, informational (no enzymes yet)
(nucleic acids are a subclass of polysaccharides)
Energy content
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Carbohydrates, sugars
Historical background, chemistry, biosynthesis
Saccharide structure and nomenclature review
Analytical Methods and Biotechnology Applications:
Evolution of Glycan diversity, information potential
Protein-glycan interactions, binding, recognition,
signaling, adhesion, immunology:
- Proteins that recognize glycans (immune and non-immune), molecular specificity
Biological roles of glycans, Bioactivity
Glycans in Genetic Disorders and Disease
Microbial Adhesion and Virulence
Opportunities for Biotechnology Development
Text: Essentials of Glycobiology, 1999, Eds. Varki and Cummings: ISBN
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4. Rudimentary structures
Simple monosaccharides
Trioses (3 carbons), 1 chiral center, 2 isomers
Tetroses (4 carbons), 2 chiral centers, 4 isomers
Pentoses (5 carbons, 3 chiral centers, 8 isomers
Hexoses (6 carbons, 4 chiral centers, 16 isomers
D-series sugars (highest chiral hydroxyl to the right in a Fischer projection.
L-series sugars (opposite)
Anomeric carbon (carbon 1 for aldoses, carbon 2 or other for ketoses
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5. Historical synthesis, analysis
Emil Fischer (late 19th, early 20th cent)
X-ray crystallography, 1940’s-50’s
D-sugars correctly guessed by Fischer
Crystallization of derivatives, melting points, rotation of plane polarized light
Thus “D” originally meant “dextrarotatory” and “L” meant “levorotatory”.
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Analytical Methods
Wet chemical methods, colorimetry, etc.
Enzymology
Spectroscopy
Optical rotation (historical)
Mass spectrometry
NMR
X-ray
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7. Diversity of structures, Information carrying potential
Laine, RA (1994) “A Calculation of all Possible Oligosaccharide Isomers, Both Branched and Linear Yields 1.05 x 1012 Structures for a Reducing Hexasaccharide: The Isomer Barrier to Development of Single-Method Saccharide Sequencing or Synthesis Systems”
Glycobiology 4:
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8. Information Biological roles of glycans, Bioactivity
Protein-glycan interactions, binding, recognition
Antibodies (ABO blood groups, etc.)
Lectins (special class of sugar-binding proteins)
Enzymes
Signalling, blood clotting (heparin)
Receptors (signals, microbial attachment)
Carbohydrate-carbohydrate binding
controversial
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9. Glycans in Genetic Disorders and Disease
Transplantation antigens other than MHC’s
Blood transfusion studies of carbohydrates!
Diseases due to errors of metabolism
Mutated enzymes of biodegradation:
Mostly lysosomal storage diseases
Tay-sachs, Fabry’s, Hunters, Gauche’s
Mutated enzymes of biosynthesis:
HEMPAS, other blood disorders
Knock-out mouse studies of function
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10. Microbial Adhesion and Virulence
Bacterial colonization receptors
Alpha-galactose e. coli receptor
Helicobacter pylorus
Cholera receptor
others
Virus receptors
Influenza (sialic acid)
Herpes (heparinoids)
Bacteriophage
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11. Opportunities for Biotechnology Development-pharmaceuticals
Blood clotting control
Cancer (group B streptococci)
Antivirals (receptor inhibitors, rotavirus)
Cell growth controllers (heparinoids, others)
Anti-inflammatories (selectin inhibitors)
others
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12. Opportunities for Biotechnology Development-Diagnostics
Bacterial diagnostics (recognition of cell surface carbohydrates)
Today - blood types, vaccines
Viral diagnostics (receptor-based)
Fungal diagnostics
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13. glycobiology Student presentations: Powerpoint Preview of talk
Present a paper with data
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