About This DataBase
Carbohydrate chains occupy truly significant positions in various fields of life sciences and biotechnology. Recently, the wide-ranging involvement of carbohydrate chains in life sciences has been extended to such diverse functions as cell to cell recognition and communication in neuronal tissues and immune systems, pathogen recognition, sperm-egg recognition and fertilization, regulating hormonal half-lives in the blood, directing embryonic development and differentiation, and directing distribution of various cells and proteins throughout the body. A large number of polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies have been used as very important tools for analyzing expression of various carbohydrate chains and their functions. In this database, useful information on these carbohydrate antigens, i.e. glyco-epitopes, and antibodies has been assembled as a compact encyclopedia.
