Bound Carbohydrates In Nature (lezioni Lincee)

This book is based on a series of lectures delivered under the auspices of the University of Siena. The contents reflect and delineate the author's biochemical research. In particular, the book focuses on the special role played by bound carbohydrates in nature. The complexity of these enigmatic compounds is examined through special case studies including glycoproteins and the metabolism of sialic acids. This book will be of interest, not only to those working in biochemistry and molecular biology, but also to those in the pharmaceutical industry. It provides an entertaining and first hand account for researchers and graduate students. Bound carbohydrates in nature Lezioni Lincee Sponsored by Foundazione IBM Italia Editor: Luigi A. Radicati di Brozolo, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa This series of books arises from lectures given under the auspices of the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei and is sponsored by Foundazione IBM Italia. The lectures, given by international authorities, will range on scientific topics from mathematics and physics through to biology and economics. The books are intended for a broad audience of graduate students and faculty members, and are meant to provide a 'mise au point' for the subject they deal with. The symbol of the Accademia, the Lynx, is noted for its sharp sightedness; the volumes in the series will be penetrating studies of scientific topics of contemporary interest. Already published Chaotic Evolution and Strange Attractors: D. Ruelle Introduction to Polymer Dynamics: P. de Gennes The Geometry and Physics of Knots: M. Atiyah Attractors for Semigroups and Evolution Equations: O. Ladyzhenskaya Half a Century of Free Radical Chemistry: D.H.R. Barton Bound carbohydrates in nature LEONARD WARREN The Wistar Institute Philadelphia, USA CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS Cambridge, New York, Melbourne, Madrid, Cape Town, Singapore, Sao Paulo Cambridge University Press The Edinburgh Building, Cambridge CB2 8RU, UK Published in the United States of America by Cambridge University Press, New York www.cambridge.org Information on this title: www.cambridge.org/9780521442312 © Cambridge University Press 1994 This publication is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception and to the provisions of relevant collective licensing agreements, no reproduction of any part may take place without the written permission of Cambridge University Press. First published 1994 A catalogue record for this publication is available from the British Library ISBN 978-0-521-44231-2 hardback ISBN 978-0-521-44743-0 paperback Transferred to digital printing 2008 For Eve Contents Preface 1 The carbohydrates of glycoproteins 2 3 xi 1 History Microheterogeneity of bound carbohydrates Function of bound carbohydrates Inducible changes in bound carbohydrates Programed changes in bound carbohydrates A possible role for bound carbohydrates 3 6 8 13 17 19 Derivatives of neuraminic acid 23 Sialic acids Distribution of sialic acids in nature The state of sialic acids in nature The metabolism of hexosamines and sialic acids Metabolic control of hexosamines and s