PROTEIN GLYCOSYLATION - STRUCTURAL AND FUNCTIONAL-ASPECTS

During the last decade, there have been enormous advances in our knowl edge of glycoproteins and the stage has been set for the biotechnologi cal production of many of them for therapeutic use. These advances are reviewed, with special emphasis on the structure and function of the glycoproteins (excluding the proteoglycans). Current methods for struc tural analysis of glycoproteins are surveyed, as are novel carbohydrat e-peptide linking groups, and mono- and oligo-saccharide constituents found in these macromolecules. The possible roles of the carbohydrate units in modulating the physicochemical and biological properties of t he parent proteins are discussed, and evidence is presented on their r oles as recognition determinants between molecules and cells, or cell and cells. Finally, examples are given of changes that occur in the ca rbohydrates of soluble and cell-surface glycoproteins during different iation, growth and malignancy, which further highlight the important r ole of these substances in health and disease.