Standardized analytical methods have been established for genome and proteome analyses, enabling large-scale studies such as whole-genome analyses and comprehensive protein profiling, which have revealed associations with major diseases. Meanwhile, the development of analytical platforms for glycan profiling by the Human Glycome Atlas Project has made it possible to conduct glycomics studies on large populations. This review introduces the new possibilities and expectations that large-scale glycome data obtained from cohort studies of healthy and diseased individuals may bring to glycoscience and the life sciences more broadly. ...and more
In the “Rare Sugars” series of articles of this journal, we first defined and classified rare sugars and then took an historical approach to describing their roles in nature under the title “What are rare sugars?”, tracking them from their position in the primitive earth to their current position. Next, we created the “Izumoring”, a systematic production strategy for rare sugars, tracked its evolution, and described the physicochemical properties of the crystalline structures of rare sugars and the features of the microbial enzymes used to produce rare sugars. We further proceeded to describe the development of applications of rare sugars, including the frontiers of research into medical applications, improved methods of cancer, diabetes, and obesity treatment. In this article, we provide an overview of the potential applications of the rare sugar D-allulose in food, the anti-aging effects of rare sugars, and the potential for agricultural applications. ...and more
Recently, the market for antibody therapeutics has expanded, and glyco-engineering has emerged as a technology that enhances antibody functions. Specifically, controlling the N-linked glycan structure in the Fc region of IgG can enhance antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and optimize pharmacokinetics. Conventional glycan structure analysis faced challenges in retaining positional and combinatorial data. However, recent advances in glycan homogenization using endoglycosidases mutants have enabled more precise glyco-engineering techniques. Additionally, this technology has been applied to the development of homogeneous antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), offering a promising strategy for cancer treatment. This review provides an overview of recent advances in IgG glycoengineering and its potential applications in drug development. ...and more
Gels, three-dimensional structures formed by polymers, have various biosimilar properties such as water retention, structural flexibility, and material retention, and are being considered for a wide range of medical applications including as materials in soft contact lenses, artificial muscles, artificial breasts, artificial skin, and as anti-adhesive materials, wound healing materials, and drug carriers in drug delivery systems. This article focuses on how polysaccharide gels and gel-sheets with both tissue adhesion and drug release properties are prepared by combining polysaccharides (hyaluronic acid and chitosan) and synthetic polymers. ...and more
