Glycobiology

Introduction

Glycobiology is the study of role of carbohydrate containing molecules in the body. Sugar chains offer themselves as the key for understanding the functions of proteins, whose forms and functions largely determine all the life processes. Since the human genome has essentially been sequenced, the focus of scientific attention has moved to elucidate the structure and functions of the proteins encoded by the genes.

The human genome contains the codes for 90,000 to 100,000 different kinds of proteins and scientists are using the information from the genome sequencing effort to learn more about them. They are working to shed light on the activity of proteins of unknown function, and searching for proteins that might lead to the development of drugs for the treatment of intraceable diseases. But the activity of almost half of all proteins in the body is affected by the sugar chains attached to them. Thus, any understanding of the activity of proteins depends in part on an understanding of glycobiology. The sugar chains appear to play a controlling role in the proper functioning of many proteins. One of the important manifestations of these sugar chains is Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a disease that is characterized by the weakening and wasting away of muscle tissue.

Recently, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology has found that only one wrong sugar chain can prevent proper functioning of the muscles and nerves. In their joint effort with Osaka University, they discovered one of the genes responsible for molecular dystrophy. This particular gene codes for a certain enzyme that has the job of attaching sugar chains to membrane-bound proteins of the cells that comprise muscle tissue. When the gene is defective the sugar chains do not attach to the proteins and the muscles do not form properly. Another research group of Osaka University has demonstrated experimentally that changes in sugar chains can control the metastasis of cancer. When the gene for certain enzyme is inserted in mice, the incidence of cancer metastasis declines by more than 90% in these mice. The group postulates that the enzyme changes the structure of the sugar chain bound to a protein that the cells use for mutual recognition. The change makes it more difficult for the cancer cells to migrate to different parts of the body.

Research in the field of glycobiology is picking up fast in Japan. Sugar chains affect the activity of around half of the proteins in the body and these are related to the onset and severity of disease. Japanese researchers have already applied for patenting of 20% of the estimated 300 different essential enzymes active in the attachment of sugar chains to proteins. An indication of Japanese push in this direction can be obtained from the number of new research establishments and the amount of money being earmarked for this area. A glyco-engineering research facility is being built at Tokai University while Hokkaido University is establishing a glyobiology research institute. AIST is about to complete its work on building an institute for research on genetic engineering of sugar chains. In addition, METI will spend $ 2.0 million over the three years to support a search for genes of sugar chains related to cancer and immunity. The private sector is not behind. Kyowa Hakko Kogyo and Takara are bolstering their research efforts in the field of glycobiology. Similarly in USA, the National Institute of Health plans to spend a sum of about $ 2 million over five years to support research in the field.

Contact for more information

Science & Technology Wing Embassy of India
2-2-11, Kudan Minami, Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo 102-0074, Japan
Tel: +81-3-3262-2391 to 97,
Fax: +81-3-3234-4866
E-mail: tandonus@hotmail.com