Sulfation is the most abundant and diverse glycan modification which tunes the physical properties and biological activities of residing structures. The sulfated glycans of the glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) class, including heparan sulfate (HS), chondroitin sulfate (CS), dermatan sulfate (DS), and keratan sulfate (KS), are found to be ubiquitously expressed on cell surfaces of all mammals where they regulate extracellular cell signaling, growth and homeostasis, and provide structural support. Sulfation is not restricted to non-branched linear GAGs, but also frequently identified on O-glycans and N-glycans. For example, the mucus layer coating the colon surface is composed of mucins with heavily sulfated O-glycans, as a protective barrier against gut microbes. Highly sulfated N- and O-glycans also correlate to various diseases. For example, abnormally sulfated mucins appear to be central to respiratory infections of cystic fibrosis patients, ovarian cancer tissue contains highly sulfated O-glycoproteins, and various sulfated O-glycans were identified as tumor marker candidates. Given their critical roles in health and disease, sulfated glycans are emerging as promising targets for novel diagnostics and therapeutics against various diseases.
Over the last several decades, tremendous efforts have been made to acquire sulfated glycans (mostly GAGs), understand their biology and functions, and apply them in various fields. However, there are still challenges in related studies and knowledge gaps regarding the function of sulfations on glycans. For example, regardless of many recently developed chemical and chemoenzymatic approaches, the synthesis of certain GAGs (e.g., DS) is still challenging, especially those with defined lengths and sulfation patterns. Additionally, the synthesis of sulfated N-glycans and O-glycans, as well as sulfated glycan determinants, is rarely reported. Structural characterization and sequencing of sulfated GAGs is another challenging task. Moreover, while it is well understood that sulfation alters the interactions between glycans and many glycan-binding proteins, the underlying molecular details remain largely unclear. Therefore, it is necessary to visit the latest research in the field of sulfated glycans, their synthesis, and functional studies. Original articles and reviews are needed.
The aim of this Research Topic is to gather recent and novel research in the field of sulfated glycans. We welcome researchers to contribute Original Research and Review articles. Topics of interest include but are not limited to the following:
• Structural analysis and quantification of GAGs and sulfated N/O-glycans.
• Biosynthetic pathways of sulfated glycans.
• Characterization and application of enzymes involved in glycan sulfation.
• Chemical, enzymatic, or chemoenzymatic synthesis of sulfated glycans.
• Functional studies of GAGs or sulfated N-glycans and O-glycans.
• Interactions between sulfated glycans and proteins.
Keywords:
Sulfation, Synthesis, Glycan, Function, Structure
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
Sulfation is the most abundant and diverse glycan modification which tunes the physical properties and biological activities of residing structures. The sulfated glycans of the glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) class, including heparan sulfate (HS), chondroitin sulfate (CS), dermatan sulfate (DS), and keratan sulfate (KS), are found to be ubiquitously expressed on cell surfaces of all mammals where they regulate extracellular cell signaling, growth and homeostasis, and provide structural support. Sulfation is not restricted to non-branched linear GAGs, but also frequently identified on O-glycans and N-glycans. For example, the mucus layer coating the colon surface is composed of mucins with heavily sulfated O-glycans, as a protective barrier against gut microbes. Highly sulfated N- and O-glycans also correlate to various diseases. For example, abnormally sulfated mucins appear to be central to respiratory infections of cystic fibrosis patients, ovarian cancer tissue contains highly sulfated O-glycoproteins, and various sulfated O-glycans were identified as tumor marker candidates. Given their critical roles in health and disease, sulfated glycans are emerging as promising targets for novel diagnostics and therapeutics against various diseases.
Over the last several decades, tremendous efforts have been made to acquire sulfated glycans (mostly GAGs), understand their biology and functions, and apply them in various fields. However, there are still challenges in related studies and knowledge gaps regarding the function of sulfations on glycans. For example, regardless of many recently developed chemical and chemoenzymatic approaches, the synthesis of certain GAGs (e.g., DS) is still challenging, especially those with defined lengths and sulfation patterns. Additionally, the synthesis of sulfated N-glycans and O-glycans, as well as sulfated glycan determinants, is rarely reported. Structural characterization and sequencing of sulfated GAGs is another challenging task. Moreover, while it is well understood that sulfation alters the interactions between glycans and many glycan-binding proteins, the underlying molecular details remain largely unclear. Therefore, it is necessary to visit the latest research in the field of sulfated glycans, their synthesis, and functional studies. Original articles and reviews are needed.
The aim of this Research Topic is to gather recent and novel research in the field of sulfated glycans. We welcome researchers to contribute Original Research and Review articles. Topics of interest include but are not limited to the following:
• Structural analysis and quantification of GAGs and sulfated N/O-glycans.
• Biosynthetic pathways of sulfated glycans.
• Characterization and application of enzymes involved in glycan sulfation.
• Chemical, enzymatic, or chemoenzymatic synthesis of sulfated glycans.
• Functional studies of GAGs or sulfated N-glycans and O-glycans.
• Interactions between sulfated glycans and proteins.
Keywords:
Sulfation, Synthesis, Glycan, Function, Structure
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.