Notable Aspects of Glycan-Protein Interactions

摘要: This mini review highlights several interesting aspects of glycan-mediated interactions that are common between cells, bacteria, and viruses. Glycans ubiquitously found on all living in the extracellular milieu multicellular organisms. They known to mediate initial binding recognition events both immune cells pathogens with their target or tissues. The host tissues hidden under a layer secreted glycosylated decoy targets. In addition, can utilize display glycans prevent identification as foreign by host's system (molecular mimicry). Both continually evolve. evolves infection evolve evade defenses. Many express glycan-binding proteins glycosidases. Interestingly, these often located at tip elongated protrusions leading edge cell. Glycan-protein have low affinity and, result, multivalent required achieve biologically relevant binding. These enable dynamic forms adhesion mechanisms, reviewed here, include rolling (cells), stick roll (bacteria) surfacing (viruses).