Abstract

Glycosylation, a critical post-translational modification, involves the attachment of carbohydrate moieties to proteins and lipids, profoundly influencing cellular processes and disease outcomes. This article reviews recent advancements in carbohydrate biochemistry, focusing on the mechanisms of glycosylation and their implications for disease modulation. We explore the diverse glycosylation patterns, including N-linked and O-linked glycosylation and their roles in protein folding, stability, and cellular signaling. Recent breakthroughs in glycomics and glycoproteomics have unveiled intricate glycosylation networks and their impact on various diseases, including cancer, autoimmune disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases. The article highlights novel methodologies for studying glycosylation, such as mass spectrometry and glycan microarrays, and discusses their potential in developing targeted therapies. Understanding glycosylation mechanisms offers insights into disease pathogenesis and opens avenues for innovative treatment strategies. This comprehensive review provides a critical synthesis of current knowledge and future directions in the field of carbohydrate biochemistry.