Glycobiology is a study of carbohydrates in terms of their biological functions, molecular structure, and biosynthesis
Glycobiology is a field of
study that studies glycoprotein molecules. In essence, glycosylation is how
sugars act as catalysts to cause specific chemical reactions. It is a subset of
biochemistry and physiology that has earned a great deal of study over the
years. Defined in the most narrow sense, glycobiology is the study of how
sugars are produced, broken down, and absorbed by living things.
One of the areas of study in glycobiology
is how sugars and carbohydrates affect the formation and function of individual
cells. The cell-intake process, for instance, is an area of great interest in
glycobiology. There, glycans serve as a molecular vehicle for many important
biochemical reactions that take place during the process of cell adhesion,
regulation of gene expression, energy metabolism, and other processes. Among
these activities are the processes that produce glycans, the structures formed
by glucose when the sugars are broken down into simple sugars or starches. For instance, in December 2020, the German biotech
company, Glycotope GmbH, signed a deal with a cell therapy providing company,
ONK Therapeutics, to authorize a humanized, tumor-based antibody focusing
glycosylated tumor.
A second area of
glycobiology that is of great interest to scientists is how the molecules are
made. In this area, glycans and their structural derivatives are studied under
different approaches. One of the most thorough and comprehensive examinations
of glycans involves the use of biochemical and genetic analysis to reveal the
mechanisms involved in the synthesis of glycans and the resulting structurally
modified molecules.
In conclusion, the glycobiology of human diseases is
heavily influenced by our diet, which affects both glycan structures and
metabolism. The two most common diseases in which the glycan structures are
affected are diabetes and AIDS. The main problem with diabetes is that the
failure to control blood glucose levels results in excessive accumulation of
fat in the body. In the case of AIDS, the cause is a deficiency in the immune
system which allows opportunistic infections to take hold and affect vital
organs. As these two diseases can be controlled, perhaps by adding a bit of
carbohydrates to the diet, the field of glycobiology has opened many doors for
medical professionals.
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