Glycobiology articles from across Nature Portfolio

CRISPR–Cas9 screens in primary CD4⁺ T cells enable identification of SLC35A2 as a host factor that restricts CXCR4-tropic HIV-1 viral entry and promotes that of CCR5-tropic viruses.

Cell surface glycans form glycan patterns consisting of different types of glycan molecules, thus enabling strong and selective cell-to-cell recognition. In this study, the authors report a method based on the manipulation of glycan patterns to translocate a glycosylated albumin from blood or tumor to intestine by remodeling the α(2,3)-sialylated glycan pattern into a galactosylated pattern on albumin via a bioorthogonal chemical reaction.

Hyaluronan (HA) is an essential glycosaminoglycan. Here, the authors provide mechanistic insights into how HA synthase synthesizes HA and creates a membrane-spanning secretion channel, as well as how channel-lining residues modulate the HA length distribution.

Exoglycosidases isolated from the mucolytic gut bacteria Akkermansia muciniphila bring enzymatic conversion of A and B blood group erythrocytes to blood group O a step closer.

Analyzing glycans is challenging because of their structural diversity and complexity and the lack of analytical techniques capable of resolving pools of similar glycan structures. A new method now enables imaging of single glycans, providing direct observation of individual glycans and glycoconjugates.