EFFECT OF GLYCOSYLATION ON ANTIBODY FUNCTION - IMPLICATIONS FOR GENETIC-ENGINEERING

Antibodies are able to both bind antigens and trigger the responses th at eliminate them from circulation. All antibodies are glycosylated at conserved positions in their constant regions, and the presence of ca rbohydrate can be critical for antigen clearance functions such as com plement activation, The structure of the attached carbohydrate can als o affect antibody activity. Antibody glycosylation can be influenced b y the cell in which it is produced, the conformation of the antibody a nd cell culture conditions, These variables should be considered in th e design and production of antibodies with selected specificity and fu nction.