title: Epigenetic regulation of glycosylation is the quantum mechanics of biology.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Most proteins are glycosylated, with glycans being integral structural and functional components of a glycoprotein. In contrast to polypeptides, which are fully encoded by the corresponding gene, glycans result from a dynamic interaction between the environment and a network of hundreds of genes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Recent developments in glycomics, genomics and epigenomics are discussed in the context of an evolutionary advantage for higher eukaryotes over microorganisms, conferred by the complexity and adaptability which glycosylation adds to their proteome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Inter-individual variation of glycome composition in human population is large; glycome composition is affected by both genes and environment; epigenetic regulation of "glyco-genes" has been demonstrated; and several mechanisms for transgenerational inheritance of epigenetic marks have been documented.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Epigenetic recording of acquired characteristics and their transgenerational inheritance could be important mechanisms used by higher organisms to compete or collaborate with microorganisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Zagreb, A. Kovačića 1, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; Genos Glycobiology Laboratory, Hondlova 2/11, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia. Electronic address: glauc@pharma.hr.
authors.forename: Gordan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lauc
authors.forename: Aleksandar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vojta
authors.forename: Vlatka
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zoldoš
mesh_terms: D005075:Biological Evolution; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D053263:Gene Regulatory Networks; D005796:Genes / Q000502:physiology*; D006031:Glycosylation; D006801:Humans; D011789:Quantum Theory
keywords: Adaptation; Epigenetics; Evolution; Glycosylation