Topic: Glycoproteins, glycosylation & Cancer
This week you learned about carbohydrates and the importance of glycolipids, glycoproteins, and glycosylation for the functional interaction between the different components found in the extracellular matrix (ECM). You further heard about the importance of the proper sequence of the carbohydrates on glycoproteins (the “sugar code”) and the key role of sialic acid in many important cellular processes, ranging from cell-cell interaction, immune function, and cancer. You heard that the extracellular carbohydrate coat of cells, called glycocalyx, plays a role in tumor formation and metastasis. As you work on this assignment, consider that approximately half of all human proteins known to date are glycosylated and the majority of cancer biomarkers are comprised of glycoproteins. About 270,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in the U.S. per year and 6.9% of all cancer-related deaths will result from breast cancer. Also consider that the human receptor tyrosine-protein kinase erbB-2 (HER2), one of the proteins found mutated in many breast cancer patients, has multiple sites of N-glycosylation important for its biological function.
- Write Scientific evidence showing a role of glycosylation in tumor development and/or metastasis?
- Which enzymes important for glycosylation are known/mentioned to play a role in tumorigenesis and cancer?
- Which sugar residues and “glyco-antigens” are discussed to play a role in tumorigenesis and cancer?
- Do the cells of different cancers express different glycosylation patterns? If so, what is discussed by the scientist(s) to be responsible?
- What are the diagnostic methods used to detect alterations in glycosylation patterns amongst normal cells and tumor cells?
- Where are or what are the challenges in the field of glyco-biology?
