Glycoproteins in disease

The class of carbohydrate macromolecules known as glycoproteins exhibits great structural diversity. Their key role in the function of biological systems includes determination of cell membrane structure and function as well as antigenic determinants. In the recent decade, the detection of inborn errors of metabolism of these macromolecules as well as changes in their composition following mutagenesis and oncogenesis have highlighted the key role they play in the biology of man. The application of analytic techniques for their quantitation and structural characterization has resulted in their increasing utility in diagnostic medicine. They may be used not only as markers of active and inactive disease, but they also have become important in the diagnosis of congenital defects and tumors.