Korean J Blood Transfus.  2015 Aug;26(2):103-122. 10.17945/kjbt.2015.26.2.103.

Biological Meaning of the Histo-Blood Group Antigens Composed of Sugar Chains

• Kwon SW
• Ahn A
• Chung Y

• KMID: 2255807
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.17945/kjbt.2015.26.2.103

Abstract

All living creatures on this planet, from bacteria to human, produce sugar chains (glycans). This means that sugar chains are essential for living a life. Abundant, diverse, and highly regulated repertoire of glycans are synthesized by glycosylation process in cells. Located in proteins (N-glycans and O-glycans) and lipids (glycosphingolipids), glycans participate in many vital biological processes including molecular recognition, cell adhesion, molecular trafficking and clearance, receptor activation, and signal transduction. Histo-blood group antigens that are composed of sugar chains are expressed under the control of the Secretor, Lewis and ABO glycosyltransferases. They play important roles in microbial infections and cancers. Many of sugar chains associated with histo-blood group antigens are exploited as receptors for microorganisms. Aberrant glycosylation of proteins and lipids occurs commonly during malignant transformation and leads to the expression of tumor-associated glycans. In this review, over the scope of transfusion medicine, we discussed deep down the biologic meaning of sugar chains, through exploring how the sugar chains are synthesized, structured, and functioning.

Keyword

Blood group antigen; Sugar chain; Glycosylation; ABO; Lewis; Infection; Cancer

MeSH Terms

Bacteria
Biological Processes
Cell Adhesion
Glycosylation
Glycosyltransferases
Humans
Planets
Polysaccharides
Signal Transduction
Transfusion Medicine
Glycosyltransferases
Polysaccharides