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Glycan-based interactions involving vertebrate sialic-acid-recognizing proteins

Nature volume 446, pages 1023–1029 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

All cells in nature are covered by a dense and complex array of carbohydrates. Given their prominence on cell surfaces, it is not surprising that these glycans mediate and/or modulate many cellular interactions. Proteins that bind sialic acid, a sugar that is found on the surface of the cell and on secreted proteins in vertebrates, are involved in a broad range of biological processes, including intercellular adhesion, signalling and microbial attachment. Studying the roles of such proteins in vertebrates has improved our understanding of normal physiology, disease and human evolution.

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Figure 1: Sialic acids on cell-surface and secreted molecules.
Figure 2: Two major sialic acids in mammalian cells.
Figure 3: Proposed scenario for occurrence of multiple changes in sialobiology during human evolution.

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Acknowledgements

The author gratefully acknowledges comments from N. Varki and research support from the National Institutes of Health.

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  1. Departments of Medicine and Cellular & Molecular Medicine, Glycobiology Research and Training Center, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, 92093-0687, California, USA

    Ajit Varki

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The author is co-founder of Noble Molecules (Boulder, Colorado), which promotes non-anticoagulant therapeutic benefits of heparins, and of Gc-Free (La Jolla, California), which focuses on detecting and eliminating Neu5Gc contamination of humans and biopharmaceutical products.

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Varki, A. Glycan-based interactions involving vertebrate sialic-acid-recognizing proteins. Nature 446, 1023–1029 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature05816

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