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Glycans... fml
10/11/11 Second Lecture
28
Medical
Graduate
10/13/2011

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Term
What is a glycoconjugate?
Definition
1. One of the 4 classes of macromolecules in cells
2. A carbohydrate (includes sugars) linked to other chemical species
Term
How many monosaccharides are there? How many are essential? What are the different subclasses?
Definition
There are 11 monosaccharide building blocks

2 are essential, 9 are non esssential

Subclasses:
Neutral - no amino group
Amino - have nitrogen (amino group)
hexoses - have 6 carbons
deoxy - no hydroxyl on carbon 4
Term
What is a glycoprotein?
Definition
A protein with sugars attached to them
Term
What are the three attachment points for sugars to glycoproteins?
Definition
Serine, Threonine, Asparagine
Term
What is the attachment point for a N-glycan?
Definition
Asparagine
Term
What is the attachment point for an O-glycan?
Definition
Serine or threonine
Term
What sugars characterize proteoglycan chains?
Definition
Uronic acid containing sugars

(leads to a lot of sulfate in them)
Term
What type of glycoproteins are found in the cytoplasm and what role do they play?
Definition
O-GlcNAc (O-N-acetylglucosamine)

They play a dynamic role in the regulation of transcription factors and gene expression (through serine and threonine)
Term
What is the glycocalyx?
Definition
A part of the plasma membrane (Important: part of it, not separate from the membrane) where glycolipids, glycoproteins, and GPI anchored glycoproteins are attached to the membrane in an extremely high density
Term
What is the glycocalyx?
Definition
A part of the plasma membrane (Important: part of it, not separate from the membrane) where glycolipids, glycoproteins, and GPI anchored glycoproteins are attached to the membrane in an extremely high density
Term
Explain how glycosylation affects the AIDS virus
Definition
The surface protein of the AIDS virus is extremely glycosylated (24 N-glycans on it). This virus uses the hosts cells machinery to drive its glycosylation. This heavy level of glycosylation acts as a shield and prevents the proteins in the virus membrane from being recognized even though they are highly antigenic
Term
What type of glycan bond leads to increased rigidity and linearity in glycoproteins?
Definition
Heavily glycosylated O-glycans
Term
How do glycoproteins help in inflammation respones?
Definition
Leukocytes have glycoproteins (Sialyl Lewis X) on their surfaces that recognize a protein called P-selectin on platelets and endothelial cells. This recognition allows binding of leukocytes to these cells during an inflammation response
Term
What is the difference between glycosylation and glycation?
Definition
Glycosylation is the addition of sugars to proteins driven by an enzyme

Glycation is the non-enzymatic addition of sugars to proteins
Term
Explain the stepwise process of sugar transfer onto a protein
Definition
1. Sugars are bound to nucleotide donors
2. Glycosyltransferases move sugars from these donors
Term
What do glycosidases do? How does their role differ based on location?
Definition
Glycosidases handle the processing or removal of sugars from glycoproteins during N-glycan synthesis

In the ER and Golgi: Synthetic pathway processing and removal

In the lysosome: Degradation pathway
Term
How are nucleotide-monosaccharide complexes imported and exported from the Golgi or ER?
Definition
Each complex has its own unique transmembrane transporter to move them into and out of the cell
Term
What is the structure common to all ABO blood type antigens?
Definition
Fucose-N-acetylgalactosamine
Term
Explain the processing of N-glycans in the ER and golgi
Definition
1. In the rough ER, a 14 sugar chain is added to an asparagine residue on a protein being synthesized
2. The N-glycan/protein is then passed into the Cis, medial and trans golgi where its original sugar (which is rich in mannose and glucose) is degraded
3. Glycosyltransferases and glycosidases add other sugars (sialic acid, galactose, fucose mostly) to the matured glycoprotein
Term
How do glycoproteins destined for the lysosome differ from those going to be secreted or sent to the plasma membrane?
Definition
Lysosome glycoproteins are phosphorylated via the mannose-6-phosphate pathway and have a mannose-6-Phosphate receptor that allows the lysosome to recognize them
Term
Explain the quality control mechanism of the ER
Definition
If glycoproteins are not properly folded they do not leave the ER, they are degraded instead

Note: This is the problem with CF
Term
What codon codes for addition of a sugar to a protein?
Definition
Asn-X-Ser/Thr

X is any amino acid other then proline
Term
Describe how the synthesis of O-type glycans differs from that of N-type glycans
Definition
O-type glycans are synthesized purely in the Golgi. Once a glycoprotein is passed from the ER to the golgi (Where N-glycans begin processing), their Serine and Threonine groups can have sugars added to them (in a step by stepwise manner)
Term
How are GPI anchored proteins attached to glycoproteins and what can cleave them?
Definition
They are attached to the C-terminal amino acid of the proteins

The glycoprotein can be cleaved from the GPI anchor by phospholipase C

They are formed by the addition of pre made intermediates (similar to N-glycans)
Term
What are gangliosides?
Definition
Glycolipids that are typically found in the brain
Term
How are glycolipids synthesized?
Definition
The addition of sugars to ceramide to make glucosylceramide or glactosylceramide, which can be further modified
Term
What type of tissue are proteoglycans typically found in?
Definition
Extracellular matrices

Note: They are glycosaminoglycans bound to a core protein
Term
Where are glycosaminoglycans made?
Definition
Golgi apparatus
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