Selectin-carbohydrate interactions in shear flow

Hydrodynamic shear creates mechanical stresses on selectin bonds, modulatin g affinity and kinetic parameters. Chemical modification of sialyl Lewis(x) increases the strength of L-selectin bonds without altering recognition, s uggesting that mechanical and biorecognition characteristics are separable. L-selectin bond formation rates may be strongly influenced by sulfate orie ntation in sulfo sialyl Lewis(x).