Glycomics: revealing the dynamic ecology and evolution of sugar molecules.
Glycomics: revealing the dynamic ecology and evolution of sugar molecules.
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DOI：
10.1016/j.jprot.2015.11.022
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发表时间：
2016-03-01
影响因子：
3.3
通讯作者：
Gagneux P
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Springer SA;Gagneux P
糖是生物世界中功能和结构最多样化的分子。聚糖的结构范围从微小的单糖单位到数千个单位长的巨链。有些聚糖是支链的，它们的单糖以许多不同的组合和取向连接在一起。有些以孤立分子的形式存在；另一些则与蛋白质和脂质结合，改变它们的集体功能特性。除了结构和储存作用外，聚糖分子还参与并积极调节生理和发育过程。聚糖也介导个体内部和个体之间的细胞相互作用。它们在生态学和进化中的作用是关键的，但没有得到很好的研究，因为聚糖生物化学需要不同于标准分子生物学实践的方法。聚糖的性质在某些方面是方便的，在另一些方面是具有挑战性的。聚糖在生物体时间尺度上变化，并直接响应生理和生态条件。它们的成熟结构是成熟过程中遗传和环境影响的物理记录。我们描述了天然聚糖变异的范围，并讨论了研究聚糖将如何使研究人员进一步整合生态学和进化领域。
Sugars are the most functionally and structurally diverse molecules in the biological world. Glycan structures range from tiny single monosaccharide units to giant chains thousands of units long. Some glycans are branched, their monosaccharides linked together in many different combinations and orientations. Some exist as solitary molecules; others are conjugated to proteins and lipids and alter their collective functional properties. In addition to structural and storage roles, glycan molecules participate in and actively regulate physiological and developmental processes. Glycans also mediate cellular interactions within and between individuals. Their roles in ecology and evolution are pivotal, but not well studied because glycan biochemistry requires different methods than standard molecular biology practice. The properties of glycans are in some ways convenient, and in others challenging. Glycans vary on organismal timescales, and in direct response to physiological and ecological conditions. Their mature structures are physical records of both genetic and environmental influences during maturation. We describe the scope of natural glycan variation and discuss how studying glycans will allow researchers to further integrate the fields of ecology and evolution.