The spelling of "high mannose" refers to a type of sugar that is commonly found on the surface of proteins. The IPA phonetic transcription of this word is /haɪ mænnoʊs/, where the first syllable is pronounced with a long "i" sound and the second syllable is pronounced with a short "a" sound. The final syllable is pronounced with a long "o" sound and an "s" at the end. This type of sugar is important in many biological processes, including protein folding and certain infections.
High Mannose refers to a type of glycan structure commonly found in the carbohydrates present on the outer surface of glycoproteins. Glycoproteins are proteins that are covalently bonded to carbohydrates, and these carbohydrates play significant roles in their structure and function. The high mannose type glycan structure is characterized by the presence of a large number of mannose sugar residues.
Specifically, high mannose glycan structures are composed of a central core of mannose sugars, which may be further branched. These structures can vary in size and composition, typically covering a range of 5 to 25 mannose residues. The presence of high mannose glycan structures on glycoproteins has implications for their biological and structural functions.
High mannose structures are involved in various cellular processes, including protein folding, sorting, and recognition. They mediate interactions with receptors and other proteins, modulating cell signaling, immune responses, and host-pathogen interactions. Furthermore, high mannose glycan structures have been associated with certain disease states, such as congenital disorders of glycosylation and viral infections.
Understanding the role of high mannose structures is crucial for deciphering the functions of glycoproteins and their role in various biological processes. Ongoing research aims to unravel the intricacies of high mannose glycan structures, enabling advancements in fields such as immunology, virology, and drug development.