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Biological Functions of Glycosylation and Their Application in Glycoengineered Therapeutics

delete2026-07-05
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OA
AI
C
Corbyn Kubalek
S
Spencer Gardiner
W
William Heaps
K
Kristina M. McCammon
S
Sam Talcott
M
Matthew Argyle
B
Bradley C. Bundy
D
Dennis Della Corte *
DOI:10.3390/chemengineering10070085delete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Glycosylation is the most common post-translational modification in the human proteome, with over half of all human proteins bearing covalently attached glycans. These glycan structures direct protein folding through ER quality control machinery, shield polypeptides from proteolytic degradation, regulate circulatory half-life via the asialoglycoprotein receptor, and serve as molecular signals for immune recognition and intracellular trafficking. For biopharmaceuticals, which constitute a rapidly growing share of approved drugs, glycan profiles are critical quality attributes that directly determine clinical efficacy and safety. Yet achieving the correct glycosylation on a therapeutic protein remains one of the field’s central challenges, as glycan biosynthesis is non-template-driven and highly sensitive to expression system and manufacturing conditions. This review connects the biological functions of glycosylation to the practical strategies of glycoengineering, examining how sequence design, expression system selection, and downstream enzymatic remodeling are used to optimize therapeutic glycoproteins. Clinical case studies spanning monoclonal antibodies, cytokines, and enzyme replacement therapies illustrate how glycan engineering translates into improved patient outcomes. We conclude by surveying emerging technologies poised to make precisely glycosylated therapeutics more accessible.
Keywords:
glycosylation
glycoengineering
therapeutics
N-linked glycosylation
O-linked glycosylation
glycoproteins
expression systems
immunogenicity

Journal

ChemEngineering cover
ChemEngineering
IF:
3.4
Papers:
328
Citations:
1.6K

Organization

B
brigham young university
Scholars:
1.3K
Papers: 510
Citations: 0
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