Introduction to Glycobiology reveals the true impact of the sugars on biological systems, explaining their function at the molecular, cellular, and organismal level and their clinical relevance.

Sugar chains (glycans) are often attached to proteins and lipids and have multiple roles in the organization and function of all organisms. "Essentials of Glycobiology" describes their biogenesis and function and offers a useful gateway to the understanding of glycans.

This book is the first to be dedicated to the bioinformatics of carbohydrates and glycoproteins. It provides an introduction to this emerging field of science both for the experimentalist working in glycobiology and glycomics, and also for the computer scientist looking for background information for the development of highly sophisticated algorithmic approaches. The book provides an overview of the state-of-the-art in the field, with reviews on databases, and the tools in use for analysis, interpretation, and prediction of the structures of complex carbohydrates, and demonstrates the value of bioinformatics for glycobiology. The availability of comprehensive databases and corresponding bioinformatics tools, to access and analyse the large amounts of experimental data relating to the structure of carbohydrates, will be a prerequisite for the success of the large-scale glycomics projects that aim to decipher new, so far unknown, biological functions of glycans. Efficient bioinformatics descriptions and tools can considerably enhance the efficiency of glycomics research, in terms of data quality, analysis and experimental costs. For a complete understanding of the molecular processes in which carbohydrates are involved, such as protein–carbohydrate interactions and the impact of glycosylation on protein function, knowledge of the 3D structure of the carbohydrate, the protein–carbohydrate complex, or the glycoprotein is often indispensable. This book provides a thorough introduction into methods used for conformational analysis of carbohydrates. Key features: Describes bioinformatic approaches to handle carbohydrate-active enzymes and glycosylation. Provides an overview on bioinformatics tools that facilitate analysis of carbohydrate structures. Gives introduction into molecular modelling of carbohydrate 3D structure and carbohydrates contained in the Protein Databank. Assumes only a basic knowledge of biology and bioinformatics.

A new focus on glycoscience, a field that explores the structures and functions of sugars, promises great advances in areas as diverse as medicine, energy generation, and materials science, this report finds. Glycans-also known as carbohydrates, saccharides, or simply as sugars-play central roles in many biological processes and have properties useful in an array of applications. However, glycans have received little attention from the research community due to a lack of tools to probe their often complex structures and properties. Transforming Glycoscience: A Roadmap for the Future presents a roadmap for transforming glycoscience from a field dominated by specialists to a widely studied and integrated discipline, which could lead to a more complete understanding of glycans and help solve key challenges in diverse fields.

This book discusses glycobiology and various forms of human diseases. Topics covered include immunoglobulins, inflammation and glycosylation, the role and therapeutic significance of natural anti-glycan antibodies in malignancies and in normal and aberrant pregnancy, identifying urinary glycans as a possible method for the diagnosis of lysosomal st

Along with nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids, carbohydrates stand as one of four main components of cellular architecture. However, glycobiology (or carbohydrate bioscience) is little understood by non-experts, partly because carbohydrates are a complex, diverse class of molecules structurally and functionally. In recent years, advances in computational analytics (glycomics) have allowed us to better interpret and realize the importance of glycobiology in human health and disease, and glycans and their associated processes have been shown to play a significant role across a variety of disease types. As the biomedical sciences continue to adopt multi-omic and precision medicine approaches, a greater understanding of glycobiology is essential for maintaining healthy physiology and advancing disease treatment.Translational Glycobiology in Human Health and Disease offers a deep examination of glycobiology for experts and non-experts alike in areas ranging from the role of glycobiology in chronic and infectious diseases to advances in technologies for higher throughput analysis and diagnosis. While keeping human health in the forefront, this book integrates a thorough discussion of glycobiology fundamentals with its growing areas of application and societal impact. With emphasis throughout on the interdisciplinary nature of glycosciences, this book also features perspectives from the health, computational (glycoanalytics), materials, biopharmaceutical, and diagnostic sciences.Disease and speciality areas addressed include gycoimmunology, neuroglycobiology, commensal glycobiology, gut health, regenerative medicine and glycobiology, glycobiology and cancer, congenital disorders of glycosylation, infectious disease glycobiology, and parasite glycobiology. Computational approaches discussed, supporting the advance of new research, include advanced glycoanalytics, glycomics microarrays, glycoengineering, and glycol systems biology. Additionally, authors consider impact areas for society and public health, such as glycobiology and entrepreneurship, policy and regulatory requirements for glycosylation, future research, and translation to new diagnostics and drug discovery. - Provides a deep, foundational overview of glycoscience and its translational potential, highlighting glycobiology's growing role in human health and disease study - Examines a broad range of relevant disease areas and applications of glycobiology in policy and public health - Features chapter contributions from leading, international experts in the field, fully integrating perspectives from the health, computational, materials, biopharmaceutical, and diagnostic sciences