Glycosylation Site¶

A glycosylation site is a position in a protein where a sugar molecule is attached. This sugar can help the protein fold properly, be recognized by other cells, or be protected from breakdown.

Example¶

Many antibodies have glycosylation sites that help them function correctly in the immune system.

Types of Glycosylation¶

N-linked glycosylation - Sugar attached to asparagine residues
O-linked glycosylation - Sugar attached to serine or threonine residues
C-linked glycosylation - Sugar attached to tryptophan residues

Functions¶

Glycosylation serves multiple purposes:

Protein folding assistance
Cell recognition and signaling
Protection from degradation
Modulation of protein activity

Clinical Significance¶

Variants affecting glycosylation sites can:

Disrupt protein folding
Affect cell-cell interactions
Alter protein stability
Impact immune recognition