Glycosyltransferases and gastric cancer

Abstract

The present chapter describes the pattern of glycosylation and the functional role of glycans in gastric tissues. The mechanisms of biosynthesis of gastric cell oligosaccharide chains and the glycosyltransferases involved in these processes are discussed in normal and pathological settings. Particular focus is given to the glycosyltransferases controlling the biosynthesis of the fucosylated and sialylated histo-blood group antigens that act as receptors for the outer membrane adhesins of the gastric pathogenic bacteria Helicobacter pylori. This chapter also addresses the glycosylation alterations and the underlying molecular mechanisms occurring during the gastric carcinogenic pathways, including the expression of simple mucin-type carbohydrate antigens, such as sialyl-Tn. Moreover, the frequent glycosylation modifications observed in gastric carcinoma, the glycosyltransferases regulating important cancer cell adhesion molecules and signaling pathways, and the glycan-mediated modulation of cell biological functions are also discussed. The decoding of the functional role of glycans in gastric cells may constitute the basis for defining biomarkers with potential to improve diagnosis and prognosis, contributing for stratification of patients and the development of better therapies.