Higuero Alonso M, Díez-Revuelta Natalia, Abad-Rodríguez José
Membrane Biology and Axonal Repair Laboratory, National Hospital for Paraplegics (SESCAM), Finca La Peraleda s/n, 45071, Toledo, Spain.
Histochem Cell Biol. 2017 Feb;147(2):257-267. doi: 10.1007/s00418-016-1519-3. Epub 2016 Dec 20.
Carbohydrate-related interactions are necessary for the correct development and function of the nervous system. As we illustrate with several examples, those interactions are controlled by carbohydrate-modifying enzymes and by carbohydrate-binding proteins that regulate a plethora of complex axonal processes. Among others, glycan-related proteins as sialidase Neu3 or galectins-1, -3, and -4 play central roles in the determination of axonal fate, axon growth, guidance and regeneration, as well as in polarized axonal glycoprotein transport. In addition, myelination is also highly dependent on glycans, and the stabilization of myelin architecture requires the interaction of the myelin-associated glycoprotein (siglec-4) with gangliosides in the axonal membrane. The roles of glycans in neuroscience are far from being completely understood, though the cases presented here underscore the importance and potential of carbohydrates to establish with precision key molecular mechanisms of the physiology of the nervous system. New specific applications in diagnosis as well as the definition of new molecular targets to treat neurological diseases related to lectins and/or glycans are envisioned in the future.
碳水化合物相关的相互作用对于神经系统的正常发育和功能是必要的。正如我们通过几个例子所说明的，这些相互作用由碳水化合物修饰酶和碳水化合物结合蛋白控制，这些蛋白调节大量复杂的轴突过程。其中，与聚糖相关的蛋白质，如唾液酸酶Neu3或半乳糖凝集素-1、-3和-4，在轴突命运的决定、轴突生长、导向和再生以及极化轴突糖蛋白运输中发挥核心作用。此外，髓鞘形成也高度依赖聚糖，髓鞘结构的稳定需要髓鞘相关糖蛋白（唾液酸结合免疫球蛋白样凝集素-4）与轴突膜中的神经节苷脂相互作用。聚糖在神经科学中的作用远未被完全理解，尽管这里介绍的案例强调了碳水化合物精确建立神经系统生理学关键分子机制的重要性和潜力。未来设想在诊断方面有新的特定应用，以及确定与凝集素和/或聚糖相关的治疗神经疾病的新分子靶点。
