Mammalian Glycosylation in Immunity

Overview

Journal Nat Rev Immunol

Specialty Allergy & Immunology

Date 2008 Oct 11

PMID 18846099

Citations 306

Authors

Jamey D Marth

Prabhjit K Grewal

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Glycosylation produces a diverse and abundant repertoire of glycans, which are collectively known as the glycome. Glycans are one of the four fundamental macromolecular components of all cells, and are highly regulated in the immune system. Their diversity reflects their multiple biological functions that encompass ligands for proteinaceous receptors known as lectins. Since the discovery that selectins and their glycan ligands are important for the regulation of leukocyte trafficking, it has been shown that additional features of the vertebrate immune system are also controlled by endogenous cellular glycosylation. This Review focuses on the emerging immunological roles of the mammalian glycome.

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