Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Full Text Freely available
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF ) Freely available
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (10)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Dias, J. A.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Dias, J. A.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Human Reproduction, Vol. 16, No. 5, 825-830, May 2001
© 2001 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology

Debates Continued

Is there any physiological role for gonadotrophin oligosaccharide heterogeneity in humans?

II. A biochemical point of view

James A. Dias1,

Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, David Axelrod Institute for Public Health, 120 New Scotland Avenue, Albany, NY 1220, USA

Heterogeneity of gonadotrophin oligosaccharides caused either by pharmacological intervention or which occurs naturally during normal physiological changes is well documented. Recent advances in structure determination of oligosaccharides has to some extent led to a better appreciation of how oligosaccharide heterogeneity may affect protein folding, stability, measurement and modulation of receptor binding. Here it is discussed how carbohydrate structure can impact upon gonadotrophin structure and function. It is well documented that oligosaccharides can serve as a cognate site for protein binding. One functional aspect of gonadotrophin glycosylation heterogeneity is the modulation of receptor binding affinity, yielding partially agonistic glycoforms. Carbohydrate heterogeneity is problematic for a clinical chemist if immunochemical assays are sensitive to heterogeneity. However, even measurements made without such interference may not accurately reflect the biological activity that is a collective result of all isoforms in the circulation, and perhaps of the genotype of each individual. Moreover, oligosaccharide heterogeneity may affect heterodimer stability, therefore, biological activity and immunochemical activity, not to mention clearance. It seems reasonable to conclude that from a biochemical point of view, oligosaccharide heterogeneity is of considerable importance. However, accurate measurement of isoforms in blood, and appropriate in-vitro bioassays that are insensitive to matrix effects are needed to define the physiological significance of each glycoform, and thereby better define target therapeutics and interpret diagnostic results.

Key words: glycoforms/gonadotrophins/hormone physiology/oligo-saccharides

1 To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: James.Dias{at}wadsworth.org


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Biol. Reprod.Home page
A. Ulloa-Aguirre, C. Timossi, J. Barrios-de-Tomasi, A. Maldonado, and P. Nayudu
Impact of Carbohydrate Heterogeneity in Function of Follicle-Stimulating Hormone: Studies Derived from in Vitro and in Vivo Models
Biol Reprod, August 1, 2003; 69(2): 379 - 389.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer:
Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.