title: Priming the cellular glycocalyx for neural development.
abstract: Glycans are important contributors to the development and function of the nervous system with enormous potential as therapeutic targets. However, a general lack of tools for tailoring the presentation of specific glycan structures on the surfaces of cells has left them largely unexplored in the biomedical context. In this Viewpoint, we briefly summarize the distinct challenges and complexities of the Glycome. We also highlight an emerging concept of cell surface engineering using synthetic nanoscale mimetics of native glycoconjugates to harness some of the unique biology of glycans, with an eye toward advancing stem cell-based neuroregenerative therapies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California , San Diego, California 92093-0358, United States.
authors.forename: Mia L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Kamil
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Godula
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019276:Glycocalyx / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000378:metabolism; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D011134:Polysaccharides