Protein’s Glycosylation

Erythropoietin, or EPO is a hormone produced by the kidney whose function is to stimulate red blood cell production in the bone marrow. EPO is a 166 amino acids protein that contains three N-glycosylation sites and one O-glycosylation site. EPO affinity for its receptor, EPOR, is inversely related to the sialylation of EPO glycan.

IgG antibody glycosylation defines the functional potential of the antibody by delineating the structure of the antibody Fc region and determining which Fc receptors it can bind to in order to recruit effector. Differential IgG glycosylation is known to modulate IgG effector functions and is involved in disease development and progression, representing both a predisposition and a functional mechanism involved in disease pathology.