Diverse alterations of glycosylation occur in diseases such as cancer, metastasis, leukemia, inflammatory and other diseases. The glycosylation abnormalities found in disease are the result of complex rearrangements of the oligosaccharide assembly by glycosyltransferases. This volume reviews several mechanisms that may underly the extremely complex alterations in disease. Disease specific glycosylation may contribute to the disease process by altering cellular functions, or may be exploited therapeutically. Specific therapy may be aimed at correcting glycosylation abnormalities based on knowledge of the mechanisms leading to the disease phenotype and the three-dimensional interactions between carbohydrates and carbohydrate-binding molecules.

Inhalt

Abstract.- 2. Introduction.- 3. Structures of ?-N-Acetylgalactosamine-Ser/Thr-Linked Oligosaccharides (O-glycans).- 4. Biosynthesis of O-Glycans.- 5. Structures of ?-N-Acetylglucosamine-Asn-Linked Oligosaccharides (N-Glycans).- 6. Biosynthesis of N-Glycans.- 7. Less Common O-Linked Carbohydrates of Glycoproteins.- 8. Control Mechanisms in the Biosynthesis of N- and O-Glycans.- 9. Glycoproteins and Cell Adhesion Functions.- 10. Role of Glycoproteins of the Immune and Blood Coagulation Systems.- 11. Growth and Hormone-Related Functions of Glycoproteins and Cell Surface Receptors.- 12. General Glycoprotein Functions.- 13. Glycosylation in Leukemia and Blood Related Disorders.- 14. Glycosylation in Cystic Fibrosis.- 15. Inflammatory Diseases.- 16. Carbohydrate Deficiency Diseases.- 17. Microorganisms.- 18. Glycoproteins in Degenerative Disease and Xenograft Rejection.- 19. Glycosylation in Cancer and Oncogenic Transformation.- 20. Intestinal Cancer.- 21. Pancreatic and Liver Cancer.- 22. Cancer of the Urinary and Reproductive Tracts.- 23. Lung Cancer.- 24. Breast Cancer.- 25. Glycoproteins in Other Cancers.- 26. Metastasis.- 27. Diagnosis and Therapy.- 28. Conclusions.