title: Glycan variation and evolution in the eukaryotes.
abstract: In this review, we document the evolution of common glycan structures in the eukaryotes, and illustrate the considerable variety of oligosaccharides existing in these organisms. We focus on the families of N- and O-glycans, glycosphingolipids, glycosaminoglycans, glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchors, sialic acids (Sias), and cytoplasmic and nuclear glycans. We also outline similar and divergent aspects of the glycans during evolution within the groups, which include inter- and intraspecies differences, molecular mimicry, viral glycosylation adaptations, glycosyltransferase specificity relating to function, and the natural dynamism powering these events. Finally, we present an overview of the patterns of glycosylation found within the groups comprising the Eukaryota, namely the Deuterostomia, Fungi, Viridiplantae, Nematoda, and Arthropoda.
authors.affiliation: Mucin Research Group, University of Bristol, School of Clinical Sciences, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol, BS2 8HW, UK. Electronic address: mdapc@bristol.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Anthony P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Corfield
authors.affiliation: University of Bristol, School of Physics, Centre for Nanoscience and Quantum Information, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1FD, UK. Electronic address: mon.berry@bristol.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berry
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002236:Carbohydrate Conformation; D002240:Carbohydrate Sequence; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006031:Glycosylation; D006801:Humans; D018716:Molecular Mimicry; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000502:physiology*; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational
chemical_list: D006023:Glycoproteins; D011134:Polysaccharides
keywords: eukaryotes; evolution; glycan; glycosylation; glycosyltransferase; molecular mimicry