Antibodies from Lampreys as Smart Anti-Glycan Reagents (SAGRs): Perspectives on Their Specificity, Structure, and Glyco-genomics

The repertoire of glycans expressed
by individual cells and tissues
is enormous, and various estimates indicate that thousands of different
glycans and “glycan determinants” are critical for functional
recognition by glycan-binding proteins. Defining the steady-state
expression and functional impacts of the human glycome will require
a concerted worldwide effort, along with the development of new immunological,
genetic, chemical, and biochemical technologies. Here, we describe
the generation of smart anti-glycan reagents (SAGRs), recombinant
antibodies that recognize novel glycan determinants. The antibodies
are generated by the sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus), through immunization with glycoconjugates, cells, and even tissues.
SAGRs represent a versatile immunological tool for defining the expression
of glycans in cells and tissues. We also present a comparison of lamprey-derived
anti-carbohydrate antibodies that have been characterized to date.
Finally, we explore the unique glyco-genome of the lamprey itself
as it compares to those of humans and mice and how it may relate to
the lamprey’s inherent capacity to produce antibodies to mammalian
glycans.