Glycosignaling: A General Review

Abstract

The concept of glycosignaling, in which neural cell-surface glycoconjugates form microdomains (Lipid Rafts) to facilitate the recruitment of signaling molecule components to form a transient signaling unit, is helping us understand the reason for glycoheterogeneity in the brain and is leadings to important translational efforts in medicine. In this review we first describe the origins of the concept of glycomicrodomains, how lipid heterogeneity might have relevance for the brain development, pathology and how the glycocalyx acts as a barrier in glia. After a discussion of how such microdomains are isolated and studied using modern technology such as nanoparticle labeling and molecular microscopy, we will present examples of how glycosignaling can function in such brain-specific situations as axonal growth and protein phosphorylation-mediated signaling.