Biochemistry and Oncology of Sialoglycoproteins

Sialoglycoproteins are defined as proteins containing one or more sialyl oligosaccharides covalently bound via their reducing end to the polypeptide chain. Most, but not all, of the glycosylated proteins in animals contain sialic acid and therefore qualify as sialoglycoproteins. Some examples of glycoproteins lacking sialic acid are ovalbumin, ribonuclease, and antifreeze glycoprotein. Sialoglycoproteins are ubiquitous in animals, either as components of cellular membranes of extracellular fluids such as serum, spinal fluid, saliva, respiratory mucous, gastric juice, sweat, and semen. The intrinsic membrane glycoproteins of the cell have their carbohydrate moieties usually projecting into the cytoplasm, or in the case of the plasma membrane, the exterior of the cell. The cell membrane sialoglycoproteins and sialoglycolipids (gangliosides) enrich the cell surface in sialyl residues which are important determinants in the social behavior of the cell. These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.