Neuroglycobiology: Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology(Molecular & Cellular Neurobiology Series)

Carbohydrates play a major role in the function and structure of the brain. In the past decade, tremendous progress has been made in understanding the structure, biosynthesis, and function of glycoconjugates found in the nervous system. The field of neuroglycobiology is now entering an exciting new phase with the use of molecular tools allowing us to manipulate the amount, as well as the temporal and spatially regulated expression, of those glycoconjugates. In recent years, we have gained important new knowledge on glycoproteins (polysialic acid, HNK-1 glycan), proteoglycans, and glycolipids. 'Neuroglycobiology' presents an integrative account of the latest developments in this field. This new volume in the Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology series starts by summarizing the historical background in identifying those glycoconjugates uniquely present in neural cells. It then goes on to summarize the current theories about their roles before considering future directions in research. This book presents an outstanding summary of the latest knowledge and perspectives in neural glycobiology.

Table of Contents:
PART 1: CARBOHYDRATES OF NEURAL CELL GLYCOPROTEINS: STRUCTURE, BIOSYNTHESIS AND FUNCTION; 1.1 Introduction; 1.2 Core glycans of glycoproteins; 1.3 Sulfated glycans; 1.4 Polysialic acid in neural development; 1.5 Sialyltransferases and polysialyltransferases; 1.6 Mechanism of polysialic acid synthesis on NCAM; 1.7 Control of polysialic acid expression; 1.8 Distinct roles of polysialic acid by different polysialyltransferases: findings on gene knockout mice; 1.9 Polysialic acid in cancer; PART 2: POLYSIALIC ACID IN ADULT BRAIN PLASTICITY; 2.1 Introduction; 2.2 The role of PSA in neural development; 2.3 The appearance of PSA-NCAM in vertebrate evolution; 2.4 PSA expression in adult brain; 2.5 PSA function in the adult CNS; 2.6 PSA in pathology; PART 3: BIOSYNTHESIS AND FUNCTION OF HNK-1 GLYCANS; 3.1 Introduction; 3.2 Structure; 3.3 Expression in neural tissues; 3.4 Developmental expression; 3.5 Biosynthesis and regulation of expression, enzymes, cloned enzymes; 3.6 Sulfoglucuronyl carbohydrate binding proteins; 3.7 Immunocytochemical localization; 3.8 Regulation of expression of sulfoglucoronyl carbohydrate, amphoterin and RAGE in retnoic acid-differentiated P19 embryonal carcinoma cells; 3.9 Physiological role of sulfoglucuronyl carbohydrate; PART 4: BRAIN GLYCOLIPIDS: INSIGHTS FROM GENETIC MODIFICATIONS OF BIOSYNTHETIC ENZYMES; 4.1 Glycolipids are the predominant glycoconjungates in the brain; 4.2 Major nervous system glycolipids; 4.3 Target gene ablation of glycolipid biosynthetic gene; 4.4 Summary and prospects; PART 5: SYNTHESIS AND FUNCTION OF GLYCOSPHINGOLIPIDS; 5.1 Introduction; 5.2 Enzymes involved in the synthesis of glycosphingolipids; 5.3 Roles of gangliosides elucidated with analyses of gene knockout mice; 5.4 Modes of function of glycosphingolipids on the cell membrane; 5.5 Redundancy of physiological function and critical roles in apoptosis; PART 6: THE SIALIC ACID VARIETY IN GANGLIOSIDES: ORIGIN AND FUNCTION; 6.1 Introduction; 6.2 Chemical diversity of sialic acid; 6.3 Metabolism of sialic acid; 6.4 5-N-Glycosylneuraminic acid in gangliosides; 6.5 O-Acetylated sialic acid; 6.6 5-De-N-acetylated sialic acids in gangliosides; 6.7 Sialic acid lactones in gangliosides; 6.8 O-methyl sialic acids in gangliosides; 6.9 KDN-containing gangliosides; 6.10 Sulfated sialic acids in gangliosides; 6.11 Internal sialic acids in gangliosides; PART 7: DEFICICIENT GLYCOPROTEIN GLYCOSYLATION IN HUMANS AND MICE; 7.1 Introduction; 7.2 Mice with defects in genes required for N- and O-glycan biosynthesis; 7.3 Human congenital diseases with defects in genes required for N- and O-glycan biosynthesis; PART 8: LYSOSOMAL GLYCOSPHINGOLIPID STORAGE DISEASES; 8.1 Lysosomal storage diseases; 8.2 Glycosphingolipids; 8.3 Mechanism of lysosomal glycosphingolipid degradation; 8.4 Defects of glycosphingolipid catabolism; 8.5 General aspects of sphingolipidoses

Review :
...an invaluable resource to guide future research seeking to improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of various pathologies involving defects in glycoconjugate metabolism and to develop new therapeutic strategies. Chemical Neuroanatomy, Vol 34, The book is an outstanding overview of most recent advances in glycobiology of nervous system. Croatian Medical Journal The book will be a helpful source for those currently active in the field, or those wanting to enter it. Physiology News, No 61