Researchers have characterized the structural and functional properties of the emerging SARS-CoV-2 sublineage RE.2.2, which displays enhanced binding to human ACE2 receptor and a novel N-linked glycosylation site. The study found that RE.2.2 has a distinct antibody escape profile and a remodeled immune evasion landscape.
Researchers at IGTP identify N-glycosylation as essential for preserving immunomodulatory function of extracellular vesicles. The study found that intact N-glycosylation can reduce monocyte recruitment to inflamed endothelium, contributing to a better understanding of these vesicles' therapeutic potential.
Scientists have discovered a new rare genetic disease caused by a mutation in the RPN1 gene, which affects glycosylation and leads to protein instability. The disease, now termed RPN1-CDG, is characterized by neurodevelopmental issues and has expanded the number of genes associated with OST complex diseases.
A new study reveals that glycosylation is an ancient process shared by all life forms, with 56% of GM genes mapping back to the origin of cellular organisms. The research also found significant evolutionary innovations during the origin of eukaryotes and animal multicellularity.
Researchers identify abnormal sugar modifications linked to depressive behaviors, offering potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets. Chronic stress disrupts sugar chains in the prefrontal cortex, triggering depression.
Recent advances in glycoproteomic technologies reveal the critical role of glycosylation in kidney health and disease. Aberrant glycosylation patterns underpin a spectrum of kidney diseases, from immunoglobulin A nephropathy to diabetic kidney disease and renal cancer.
Researchers have discovered a natural mechanism by which RNA modifications prevent innate immune activation, raising questions about their potential link to autoimmune disorders. The study found that N-glycans on glycoRNAs block hypermodified RNA bases from inducing immune responses.
Two key proteins, Oxr1 and Ncoa7, regulate V-ATPase to maintain optimal luminal pH for glycosylation within the Golgi apparatus and trans-Golgi network. This discovery provides new insight into congenital disorders of glycosylation and their cellular mechanisms.
Dr. Sophia Shi's groundbreaking research reveals that the glycocalyx deteriorates with age, leading to blood-brain barrier dysfunction and cognitive decline. Her work provides concrete molecular targets for drug development and may lead to treatments that address the root causes of neurodegeneration.
Researchers have reexamined the Ashwell-Morell receptor's functions using innovative glycoengineering techniques, clarifying its roles in sepsis and inflammation control. The study reveals that the receptor can bind to a specific type of protein glycan chain, which was previously thought to be incompatible with binding.
The GlycoPro platform offers a novel approach to multi-glycosylation-omics analysis by integrating multiple steps into a single workflow. It has been successfully applied in breast cancer research, identifying a panel of five N-glycan biomarkers with high sensitivity and specificity.
Researchers develop new method to study glycosylation in proteins, discovering that gut bacteria can alter molecular signatures in the brain. The study found over 150,000 glycosylated protein forms in brain tissue samples from mice.
A novel chemical ligation-based method enriches multiple glycosylation types, including N-glycosites and O-GlcNAc sites. The approach offers a time-efficient workflow with high reproducibility, enabling the study of dynamic glycosylation patterns in cellular responses.
Researchers have developed a novel approach to convert native sugars into diverse classes of stable glycosides and glycoproteins. This biomimetic concept uses 'cap and glycosylate' technology to selectively activate and substitute the anomeric hydroxyl group in a native sugar, generating a temporary thioglycoside intermediate that unde...
Three FAU researchers have received $1M in FDOH grants to develop innovative approaches against Alzheimer's disease. Mare Cudic aims to explore the link between glycosylation and neuroinflammation, while Ruth Tappen develops an online screening tool for older drivers with cognitive decline.
Researchers from Tokyo University of Science discovered that manipulating polyamines enhances the functional profiles of monoclonal antibodies. The study found that controlling polyamine levels increases IgG galactosylation, leading to improved therapeutic efficacy.
A new study has identified three genes, MANBA, TNFRSF13B, and EEF1A1, as crucial in the regulation of IgG galactosylation, a trait associated with ageing. The research used GWAS to analyze IgG glycosylation phenotypes in a large sample size, increasing the understanding of this complex posttranslational modification.
Researchers have created a new method to investigate the sugars coating immune cells, which could lead to the identification of novel disease biomarkers and improved cancer detection. This technique allows for the isolation of distinct cell populations and analysis of glycosylation patterns in healthy versus diseased patients.
A German research team has successfully developed a novel NMR technique to quantify acute-phase proteins in human serum, which can serve as markers for inflammatory diseases. The study found significant changes in specific acute-phase proteins in patients with COVID-19 or cardiogenic shock, and offers a diagnostic potential.
SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 24, 2023
Researchers found that mannose inhibits the growth of certain types of cancer cells, making them more vulnerable to chemotherapy. Mannose has been shown to trigger 'honeybee syndrome' in these cells, which impairs DNA synthesis and replication.
Researchers have developed methods to produce polyphenolic compounds with improved solubility through microbial fermentation, enabling potential life-saving drugs. The process, called glycosylation, attaches sugar molecules to the compounds, making them more effective in preventing diseases such as cancer and heart disease.
Scientists at Temple University have developed a novel gene-editing strategy that disrupts the ability of HIV-1 virus to enter host cells by targeting a rare genetic disorder. This approach may offer another target for developing next-generation CRISPR technology for HIV elimination, while avoiding adverse effects on cell mortality.
A UC Irvine research team discovered that the MGAT5 glycosylation enzyme plays a critical role in brain development. The study found that neural stem cells use glycosylation to regulate their reactions to external signals and develop mature brain cells. This discovery may contribute to new therapeutic purposes for neural stem cells.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) air pollution is associated with an increase in hospital procedures for heart failure patients, including stress tests and prothrombin time tests. This suggests that high PM2.5 exposure may lead to increased cardiovascular morbidity and promp...
Researchers at La Jolla Institute for Immunology have discovered that OGT regulates mTOR, a key protein for mitochondrial powerhouses, keeping cells healthy. The study may lead to important medical advances in understanding cancers, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
Researchers from Japan have developed an RNA interference method using antisense oligonucleotides to correct a genetic defect in Fukuyama Muscular Dystrophy. This approach has shown promise in treating patients with the disease, which is characterized by generalized muscle weakness and intellectual disability.
Researchers used native top-down mass spectroscopy to study the interplay between glycans and oligomerization in various therapeutic hormones and cytokines. They found that glycans significantly stabilize some proteins, such as tumor necrosis factor-α, while others, like interferon-β, are independent of glycosylation status.
SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 15, 2022
Researchers report a promising new approach that involves altering sugar molecules on the surface of cancer cells in mice, leading to a significant increase in anti-tumor immune response. The study focuses on sialic acid sugars, which are also present on healthy cells and play a role in cell-to-cell communication.
A study led by the University of Minnesota Medical School found that exposure to helminths can stimulate the immune system and reduce predisposition for inflammatory bowel disease. The research revealed a unique glycosylation mechanism, O-GlcNAcylation, which activates epithelial cells to orchestrate an anti-helminth response.
The new software tool, Glyco-Decipher, enables the sensitive interpretation of N-glycopeptide mass spectra at high confidence. Researchers found that the fragmentation pattern of peptide backbones is not affected by attached glycans or precursor charge states.
Scientists have identified a mechanism contributing to the tissue phenotypes of PMM2-CDG, a congenital disorder of glycosylation. Using a zebrafish model, researchers found that defects in N-cadherin processing lead to craniofacial and motility abnormalities.
Researchers have created a human disease model of FCMD using stem cells from a patient, which successfully mimicked the disorder's brain defects. The study found that a small compound called Mannan-007 can restore αDG glycosylation and reduce FCMD-related defects.
Researchers identified two lectins, Clec4g and CD209c, that strongly bind to the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein, blocking viral entry into cells. These findings hold promise for developing robust therapeutic interventions against circulating variants.
New tools have been developed by WEHI researchers to study 'tryptophan C-mannosylation', a protein modification linked to diseases such as muscular dystrophy and cancer. The tools enable the mapping of this modification's prevalence in healthy tissues, laying the foundation for future studies.
Researchers identified a critical glycosylation step and a control protein that regulate flagellum assembly. The discovery sheds light on bacterial motility and provides insights into protein synthesis and cytoskeleton formation.
Researchers at Cornell University have engineered bacteria to produce glycoproteins, which are complex molecules attached to proteins. The goal is to create therapeutic reagents for cancer treatment and potentially develop a subunit vaccine against COVID-19.
Researchers at EMBL Rome reveal that protein glycosylation plays a central role in DNA methylation, inducing gene silencing by modifying regulatory factors. This breakthrough sheds light on the mechanism behind the most studied epigenetic modification.
Researchers at UAB and SUNY-Buffalo found no retinal degeneration in mice with a K42E mutation of the DHDDS enzyme, but massive gliotic activation in their retinas. This challenges the conventional view of RP59 as a congenital disorder of glycosylation.
A new study has established a framework for measuring protein glycosylation, a process critical to the development of safe and effective antibody-based drugs. By pooling data from various labs, researchers have created consensus estimates of glycan composition, shedding light on the variability in measurement techniques.
Researchers have successfully produced mammalian cell lines that can produce human glycosylation profiles for Alpha-1-antitrypsin proteins. This breakthrough enables the production of recombinant Alpha-1-antitrypsin without dependency on human donors, reducing treatment costs and improving patient outcomes.
Researchers have developed a groundbreaking method for producing complex proteins, known as glycoproteins, in a cell-free system. This innovation has the potential to revolutionize personalized medicine by allowing for rapid and sustainable production of tailored protein medicines. The new approach uses a simplified reaction scheme tha...
A Northwestern-led synthetic biology research team has developed a new biotech technique called GlycoSCORES that promises to accelerate research into protein therapies. The technique uses cell-free protein synthesis, protein glycosylation, and mass spectrometry to rapidly screen sequences for making glycoproteins.
A team of Yale University scientists has developed a new approach to glycosylation that is remarkably simple and works in water at room temperature. This process can be generalized to create large numbers of different compounds, making it easier to find the best biochemical probes and therapeutics.
A recent study published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry found that specific sugars attached to a key protein called Notch can serve as quality-control markers, ensuring its proper transport to the cell membrane. This discovery has implications for understanding cancer progression and developing potential treatments.
The DFG is funding six new research units and two humanities centers focusing on topics such as plant morphodynamics, Russian lyric poetry, and trace element interactions. These initiatives aim to advance knowledge in various fields and tackle pressing issues.
Scientists at Case Western Reserve University have identified three glycosyltransferases, B3GNT2, B4GALT2, and ST6GALNAC2, as significant mutational targets in colon cancer. These findings suggest that functionally deleterious mutations in these genes contribute to aberrant glycosylation and tumor progression.
A team of researchers from Purdue University has determined the structure of the Zika virus, revealing insights critical to developing effective antiviral treatments and vaccines. The study identified unique regions in the virus structure that could explain differences in transmission and disease manifestation.
Researchers at ITbM and the University of Chicago uncover the mechanism behind thyrotropin's two distinct functions, triggered by seasonal changes and metabolism. Tissue-specific glycosylation differentiates the hormone's activities without cross-interference.
A recent NIH study found that a rare genetic disorder, CDG-IIb, can confer resistance to severe or recurrent viral infections like HIV and influenza. The researchers discovered that these viruses replicate less efficiently in cells with the disease, creating fewer and less infectious viruses.
Researchers have identified a new genetic syndrome characterized by severe allergy, immune deficiency, autoimmunity, and motor neurocognitive impairment. The syndrome is caused by mutations in the PGM3 gene, leading to underactive protein production and glycosylation defects.
Researchers at Caltech have identified a specific sugar, GlcNAc, that plays a key role in keeping cancerous tumors fed. By altering the addition of carbohydrates to proteins, tumor cells can survive under harsh conditions and thrive. This finding offers new potential targets for therapeutic intervention.
Researchers identified powerful antibodies that can neutralize up to 80% of HIV-1 virus types by binding to specific sugars on the glycan shield. A vaccine designed around this approach could offer wide-ranging protection for immunized individuals.
Researchers use green fluorescent protein to detect defective genes in children with glycosylation disorders, enabling the development of targeted therapies. The tool helps identify genes causing intellectual disability, digestive problems, seizures, and low blood sugar in children.
Researchers used whole-exome sequencing to diagnose a type of severe metabolic disease, identifying the genetic mutation responsible. The study showcases the potential for this technique to aid in diagnosing congenital disorders of glycosylation, offering new hope for families affected by these conditions.
Researchers have developed a mouse model that can treat a severe congenital disorder by supplementing pregnant mice with mannose, increasing the production of essential sugar chains. This breakthrough may offer a new therapeutic approach for children with CDG-Ia, who currently have no treatment options.
Researchers discovered the SRD5A3 gene mutation responsible for congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG), which affects eye and brain development in infants. A daily dietary supplement containing dolichol, a lipid carrier, may treat the condition, which has no current treatment.
The study uses a systems biology approach to understand carbohydrate structures in cells, leading to new ways to combat inflammatory illnesses. Researchers aim to define novel strategies to perturb the glycome and identify new targets for molecular therapies.
The LEX System demonstrated the ability to produce monoclonal antibodies with homogeneous glycosylation structures, reducing production risks and costs. The system's success was shown through enhanced affinity for Fc receptors and increased effector function in oncology and autoimmune indications.
GlycoFi and Dartmouth researchers engineered yeast cells to produce a broad repertoire of recombinant therapeutic proteins with human sugar structures. This achievement eliminates the need for mammalian cell culture, improving control over glycosylation and performance characteristics of therapeutic proteins.
The Dartmouth/GlycoFi team successfully completed the full humanization of glycosylation in yeast, eliminating the need for mammalian cells. This breakthrough enables the production of therapeutic proteins with improved biological function and manufacturing efficiency.