N-glycans

N-glycans are complex sugar molecules attached to proteins during their production in cells. They play crucial roles in protein stability, signaling, and immune response. These sugar chains are added to specific sites on proteins in a process called N-glycosylation, which occurs in the cell's endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus. N-glycans influence how proteins fold, where they are located, and how they interact with other molecules. Variations in N-glycan structures can affect health, disease progression, and immune function, making them important in biological processes and medicine.