Neuroglycobiology

Carbohydrates and glycoconjugates are a ubiquitous and diverse class of molecules that are critically involved in many aspects of central nervous system (CNS) physiology. They mediate many important biological phenomena that occur at the cell surface including how cells interact with their neighbors (e.g. cell-cell interactions), their environment (e.g. cell-extracellular matrix interactions), and with pathogens (e.g. host-pathogen interactions). Consequently, they play a role in many diverse neurobiological processes including membrane excitability, synaptogenesis, synaptic transmission and plasticity, neurite outgrowth, neuronal plasticity, cell migration, and signal transduction. It is unsurprising, therefore, that aberrant glycosylation can lead to CNS pathology. Indeed, altered glycosylation has been associated with many different types of disorders that affect the CNS, including neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g. autism spectrum disorders), neurodegenerative diseases (e.g. Alzheimer's disease), autoimmune diseases (e.g. multiple sclerosis), psychiatric disorders (e.g. schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder), traumatic brain injury, neuroinflammation, and neoplasia (e.g. brain cancer). Therefore, it is clear that an understanding of carbohydrates and their functions in the context of the CNS is fundamental to advancing the field of neurobiology.

The goal of this Research Topic is to provide a snapshot of the current state of the Neuroglycobiology field and to highlight the importance of carbohydrates in CNS development and homeostasis. Due to the diversity and complexity of glycoconjugates, researchers studying glycosylation tend to become highly specialized in one narrow aspect of glycobiology. Consequently, there is little cross-talk or exchange of ideas between researchers from different sub-fields. We anticipate that bringing together a diverse collection of articles from disparate areas of Neuroglycobiology will stimulate the flow of information across the breadth of the field and open up new avenues for ground-breaking research in this emerging discipline that lies at the interface between neuroscience and glycobiology.

This Research Topic focuses on the synthesis, structure, distribution, regulation, function, and evolution of carbohydrates and their conjugates in the CNS. This broad-ranging topic encompasses both free carbohydrates (such as mono-, oligo-, and polysaccharides) as well as glycoconjugates (e.g. glycoproteins, glycolipids, and glycoRNAs) that play a role in CNS physiology. This theme covers all types of glycosylation and glycoconjugates, including (but not limited to):

- N-linked
- O-linked
- GAGs
- Glycosphingolipids
- Gangliosides


Contributions should provide new insights into how carbohydrates and their conjugates contribute to CNS physiology or how dysregulation of glycosylation may be involved in CNS pathology. Areas of particular interest include the role of glycans in:

- neurodevelopment
- neuronal function
- synapse formation, function, and plasticity
- learning and memory
- disorders of glycosylation
- the treatment of diseases affecting the CNS


We welcome Review Articles, Methods Articles, as well as computational, theoretical, or experimental Original Research Articles related to the theme.

Dr. Thomas Klarić is affiliated with Genos Ltd, a private company specializing in the field of high-throughput glycomics. The other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regards to the Research Topic's theme.