THE SUGAR CODE

Glycans, also known as polysaccharides, are s composed of numerous monosaccharide units linked together by glycosidic bonds. They are among the most abundant carbohydrates found in food and play crucial roles in living organisms. While carbohydrates are traditionally recognized as a source of energy through processes like glycolysis, their significance extends far beyond mere metabolic functions.

 

In addition to serving as energy sources and components of nucleic acids and cell wall polysaccharides, glycans possess remarkable compositional and structural variability. This variability arises from their ability to combine different parameters independently, including anomeric status, linkage positions, ring size, branch addition, and site-specific substitutions. This unique property allows glycans to generate highly diverse sequences, akin to forming "words" or "signals" with a high-density coding capacity.

 

These "words" are embedded within glycoconjugates such as proteins and lipids, collectively forming the glycome, which exhibits cell type-dependent features. The structural characteristics of glycans, characterized by limited intramolecular flexibility and numerous contact points for intermolecular interactions, make them ideally suited for binding processes. Lectins, receptors specialized in recognizing specific glycan structures, can "read" these glycan-based "words" and translate their message into cellular effects.

 

The concept of the sugar code, explored in this journal's special issue, delves into the central aspects of glycans' role as carriers of molecular information. It highlights the interdisciplinary efforts required to decipher how the encoded "messages" are interpreted and translated within biological systems.

 

Key areas covered in this review include the structural and functional analyses of complex carbohydrates, facilitated by advances in chemical synthesis techniques. These advancements enable the production of synthetic oligosaccharides, glycoclusters, and neoglycoconjugates, which serve as valuable tools for studying glycan-lectin interactions. Understanding the mechanisms by which lectins recognize and interact with specific glycan structures provides fundamental insights into life processes and holds promise for medical applications.

 

In summary, the complexity and diversity of glycans make them key players in cellular communication and molecular recognition. Deciphering the sugar code not only enhances our understanding of fundamental biological mechanisms but also opens up avenues for therapeutic interventions and medical advancements.

 

GLYCOMICS - THE SUGAR CODE OF LIFE!

GLYCOMICS

Glycomics is destined to change the way doctors, scientists and chemists think of health; along with the techniques and medicines used to treat sickness and disease in the future. Glycomics is a very new specialized-science studying sugar molecules found on the surface of cells, since prior to the advent of the electron microscope, much of this latest research wasn't available nor possible. 

Minerals and Vitamins

GLYCOBIOLOGY

Glycobiology research identified numerous sugars, collectively forming molecules or carbohydrate chains of different combinations, growing on the surface of cells which is believed to be essential for inter cellular and intracellular communication. The resultant opinions are that without their function of glycocilation, there would be no life, as these sugars interact with DNA at the cellular level.

THE CODE OF LIFE 

These sugars are not the edible sweet kind that we find in cakes and sweets but are instead bitter or tasteless chemically composed carbohydrates, capable of forming millions (or perhaps billions) of combinations much like the billions of combinations of DNA. Because these sugars are another set of building blocks with which molecules of untold complexity and arrangements is forecast, it is flaunted as The Code of Life.

GLYCONUTRIENTS

Glyconutrients is one of the outcomes of the study of glycomics and hailed to be the start of a new frontier of medicine. Glyconutrients is a food rather than a medication and consumption thereof promotes overall health and the enhanced growth of these sugar carbohydrates on the cells. Yes, you may ask, Is this a cure for cancer on the horizon?

CANCER

Probably not; but as the Ancient Greek physician Hipcrates said some 400 years BC; "Let Medicine be your food and let food be your medicine." Modern day physicians, food technologists, nutritionists, food scientists, dietecians etc. all tend to agree that he hit the nail right on its head.

FOOD

It has become apparent through research that there are various enzymes the human body needs to function properly since it is incapable of producing some chemicals it required to do so, thus their are the chemicals found in oils of both plant and animal  that are important to be consumed to ensure optimum health. 

VITAMINS

Vitamins and minerals are found in most foods in varying quantities and qualities among them being the vitamin A,  B, C,  D & E, Calcium, Zinc, Selenium, Chloride, Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium, Phosphorus, Sulfur, Chromium and a several others, key components of health. Vitamin A, D & E being oil soluble vitamins that are readily stored in body fats whereas Vitamins B &C are water soluble vitamins and not stored in the body hence needs daily replenishing and in greater abundance than the stored variety of vitamins.

MINERALS

Minerals, some of which are mentioned above allows the body to absorb Vitamins because in the absence these needed micronutrients no organism can survive. Mineral Deficiencies has been link as the root cause of reduced longevity in humans and animals.

We will further expound of  these in successive blog pages!