Monoclonal Antibodies for Glycans as Tools for Identifying Endogenous Glycan Ligands for Human Carbohydrate-Recognition Molecules

Abstract

Interaction between cell surface glycans and glycan-recognition molecules plays important roles in health and disease. Identification of specific ligand glycans for glycan-recognition molecules is the significant first step for studies of biological phenomena triggered by this interaction. The following triad is proposed to be fulfilled for the identification of endogenous ligand glycans for human glycanrecognition molecules. The triad’s areas to fulfill are the following: (1) the putative glycan ligand binds to the recombinant glycan-recognition molecules, (2) the glycan in question is expressed in cells and tissues in situ where the physiological recognition process actually takes place, and (3) disruption of the cognate glycan by appropriate methods abrogates the biological interaction in cells and tissues where the glycan-dependent recognition process takes place.