Other related information : Functions of Glycans 

Since 1980, basic research on sugar chains has progressed rapidly, and sugar chains play important roles in and outside the body. A number of examples have been reported (table below). While these basic researches will continue to be actively pursued in the future, applied research using them is also progressing gradually. One example is the application to diagnosis and treatment. Methods for preventing and treating infections by controlling the function of sugar chains (glycopharmaceuticals, artificial proteins) and methods for diagnosing disease-specific changes in sugar chains are being developed. 

 

Sugar Chain - related features	Relevant substance 1
Bacterial Infection	Cell surface Glycans	Bacterial Lectins  E.coli Adhesin	Infection Control
Viral Infection	Cell surface sugar	Viral Lectin Influenza Virus Hepatits B virus Cell surface Lectin CD4   brain   membrane
Protozoan parasitism, Infection	Cell surface sugar	Adhesion molecules of protozoa  Malaria
Binding of toxins	Cell surface sugar	Toxin Vibrio Cholerae etc
Hormone Binding	Cell surface Glycans	Hormones
Fertilization	Sperm receptor	Vitelline membrane recognition Molecule Glycosyltransferase
Developmental Differentiation	Cell surface Glycans
Blood Cell differentiation	Cell surface Glycans
Protein Clearance Asialoglycoprotein		Lectins in animals Galactose-binding protein	DDS
Intracellular transport of enzymes	Glycans of lysosomal enzymes Mannose 6-phosphate	Mannose 6-phosphate receptor
Protein Stability Glycan		Proteases etc
Leukocyte Adhesion (Inflammatory response, immune response)	Leukocyte Lymphocyte surface sugar chain Vascular endothelial cell	Inflammatory site E-selectin
Cancer cell metastasis	Cancer cell sugar chain	Vascular endothelial cell  Selectin	Diagnostics Vaccine Development
Apoptosis		Cell surface glycans