glykaaneista

Glycans, also known as carbohydrates or saccharides, are complex molecules composed of sugar units. They play fundamental roles in numerous biological processes, including cell recognition, immune response, and protein folding. Glycans can be found attached to proteins (glycoproteins) or lipids (glycolipids) on the surface of cells, acting as crucial signaling molecules and structural components.

The study of glycans is called glycobiology. This field explores the structure, function, and synthesis of these carbohydrate chains. Glycans exhibit immense structural diversity, arising from the different types of monosaccharides (simple sugars) that can be linked together in various arrangements and with different types of bonds. This complexity makes glycans a rich area of research, with implications for understanding diseases and developing new therapies.

Glycans are involved in cell-cell adhesion, where they mediate interactions between cells, essential for tissue formation and immune surveillance. They also act as markers for cell identity, allowing the immune system to distinguish between self and non-self. Furthermore, glycosylation, the process of attaching glycans to proteins, can significantly alter protein function, stability, and localization. Aberrant glycosylation patterns are often associated with diseases such as cancer and inflammatory disorders, making them potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets.