Mannosecontaining

Mannose-containing is a descriptor used in biochemistry to refer to molecules that include the sugar mannose as part of their structure. Mannose is a simple hexose, an epimer of glucose, and D-mannose is the form most common in biology. The term encompasses a range of biomolecules, including glycoproteins, glycolipids, and polysaccharides that bear mannose residues.

In nature, mannose-containing structures are widespread in both eukaryotes and microbes. In eukaryotes, many secreted and membrane proteins carry N-linked glycans that begin with multiple mannose units; high-mannose N-glycans are a prominent class in the endoplasmic reticulum before further trimming and remodeling. Yeasts and other fungi produce cell wall polymers such as mannan, a polysaccharide composed primarily of mannose, and many fungal surface proteins are rich in terminal mannose residues, contributing to interactions with the environment and host organisms.

Biosynthesis and structure place mannose at a central position in N-glycosylation pathways. In the endoplasmic reticulum, a dolichol-linked oligosaccharide initially contains mannose residues that are later processed to generate diverse glycan forms. In polysaccharides, mannan chains can vary in length and can be branched, affecting physical properties and receptor recognition.

Functional roles include mediating protein folding quality control, protein stability, and cell-cell or host-pathogen interactions. Mannose residues are recognized by specific lectins, such as concanavalin A and the mannose receptor on immune cells, enabling binding and endocytosis. Abnormal mannose processing is implicated in certain congenital disorders of glycosylation, highlighting the clinical relevance of mannose-containing biomolecules. Methods for studying them include lectin-binding assays and mass spectrometry-based glycomics.