Glycobiology

Difficulties:
Complex shape
Highly branched
Additionall functional groups
No simple 4 bases, about 10 common monomers
Glycoproteins, glycolipids
Glyco part of each protein/ lipid not identical?
Many different glycans, 1% of human genes code for enzymes that contribute to glycosylation, each enzyme can modify 1 glycosidic bond, complex series of reactions in Golgi Apparatus

Disease by problems in glyco-related steps
Rheumatird arthritis:
abnormality in enzyme that attaches galactose to antibody

Possible uses:
Sugars are modified subtlely because of the many enzymes needed to make one, can create dim effect, instead of switch off entirely

Develop antivirals to inhibit glycosylation pathway of viruses, eg Hep B & C

Drugs to block enzyme glucosidase that free new viruses from cell surface sugars, prevent virus from spreading from cell to cell

Sugars relatd to heparin (anti-clotting protein) can slow tumour growth

Develop malaria vaccine by creating sugar nearly identical to the one found atached to the malaria parasite toxin to induce immune response

Design vaccines/ drugs targeting speciall sugars on the surface of tumour cells