Short Communication
Author(s): Frederic J TESSIER*
The scientific field of glycobiology comprises a
broad area of research. What unites all the
researchers in this field is the study of the structure,
biosynthesis, and biological functions of saccharides.
Of these a tremendous amount of research has been
done on glycoconjugates which refers to all types of
biological molecule that link to some saccharides.
Among these glycoconjugates are the glycoproteins
found in vivo. The glycosylation of proteins is an
enzymatic biochemical process that attachs
saccharides covalently to amino acids. It leads to
post-translational modifications of proteins which are
often crucial for the functionality of such
glycoproteins. Another type of glycoprotein is
formed by the Maillard reaction, also called
glycation. In this case enzymes are not involved in
the modification of proteins but rather it is random
chemical reactions that are conce.. View More»