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.