What Cyto- and Histochemistry Can Do to Crack the Sugar Code

As letters form the vocabulary of a language, biochemical 'symbols' (the building blocks oligo- and polymers) make writing molecular messages possible. Compared to nucleotides amino acids, sugars have chemical properties that facilitate reach an unsurpassed level oligomer diversity. These glycans are part ubiquitous cellular glycoconjugates. Cyto- histochemically, glycans' structural complexity is mapped by glycophenotyping cells tissues using receptors ('readers', thus called lectins), hereby revealing its dynamic spatiotemporal regulation: these data support concept sugar code. When proceeding from work with plant (haem)agglutinins as such tools discovery endogenous (tissue) lectins, it became clear broad panel biological meanings can indeed be derived sugar-based natural glycome incl. post-synthetic modifications) glycan-lectin recognition in situ. consequence, immunocyto- histochemical analysis lectin expression solid basis for steps toward tracking down functional correlations, example processes leading cell adhesion, apoptosis, autophagy or growth regulation well targeted delivery glycoproteins. Introduction labeled tissue lectins glycan profiling assists this endeavor detecting counterreceptor(s) Combining their applications strategically will help take trip following long-range aim: compile dictionary translates each message (oligosaccharide) into bioresponse(s), crack