How 2019's Glycobiology Award Winners Are Decoding Nature's Sugar Code
Imagine if your body's cells couldn't communicate—healing would stall, infections would go undetected, and development would falter.
This isn't mere speculation; it's what happens when the complex sugar code of life gets scrambled. While DNA and proteins often steal the scientific spotlight, glycobiology—the study of sugars in biological systems—reveals a hidden layer of complexity that governs everything from cancer progression to drug efficacy. These sugar molecules (glycans) attached to proteins and lipids form a sophisticated communication network that orchestrates fundamental biological processes, yet their complexity has made them one of science's most challenging puzzles.
The Society for Glycobiology has been at the forefront of unraveling these mysteries since its establishment, and each year it honors researchers whose work pushes the boundaries of what we know about this sugary code. The 2019 awards celebrated extraordinary contributions across the field—from developing life-saving drugs to creating tools that visualize sugar structures at the atomic level. These scientists have not only advanced fundamental knowledge but have also translated their discoveries into real-world solutions for pressing medical challenges, demonstrating that glycobiology is far more than just academic curiosity—it's a field with direct impact on human health and disease treatment.
The Society for Glycobiology recognized four exceptional scientists in 2019 for their transformative contributions to the field. These researchers represent the diversity of approaches—from chemical synthesis to structural analysis—needed to unravel the complexity of biological sugars.
| Award | Recipient | Institution | Research Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karl Meyer Lectureship Award | Robert J. Linhardt | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | Heparin research, glycosaminoglycans, chemoenzymatic synthesis |
| Rosalind Kornfeld Award for Lifetime Achievement | Nancy Dahms | Medical College of Wisconsin | Mannose-6-phosphate receptors, lysosomal enzyme targeting |
| Glycobiology Significant Achievement Award | Jochen Zimmer | University of Virginia | Membrane transport and synthesis of bacterial and plant polysaccharides |
| Molecular and Cellular Proteomics/ASBMB Lectureship | Manfred Wuhrer | Leiden University Medical Center | Glycomics and glycoproteomics technology development |
The Karl Meyer Lectureship Award, established in 1990, honors scientists who have made widely recognized major contributions to glycobiology throughout their careers 1 6 . The 2019 recipient, Dr. Robert J. Linhardt of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, embodies this tradition with four decades of groundbreaking work on glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), particularly the vital blood-thinning drug heparin 1 .
Heparin, one of the most clinically essential carbohydrate-based drugs, prevents blood clots during surgeries and treatments. However, its production from animal sources presents significant challenges.
Linhardt's work has been instrumental in overcoming these hurdles through innovative analysis methods and synthetic approaches 1 . He pioneered the use of multidimensional NMR, mass spectrometry, and capillary electrophoresis to analyze heparin's complex structure.
Perhaps Linhardt's most dramatic contribution came during the 2007-2008 heparin contamination crisis that resulted in hundreds of deaths 1 6 . When a mysterious contaminant appeared in heparin supplies, Linhardt joined the scientific task force that identified the culprit as oversulfated chondroitin sulfate (OSCS) 1 .
When patients began having severe allergic reactions to supposedly pure heparin in 2007-2008, Linhardt and his colleagues embarked on a scientific detective mission to identify the cause:
Gathered contaminated heparin samples from multiple sources
Used advanced separation techniques and mass spectrometry to isolate unknown components in the heparin mixtures
Employed nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to determine the chemical structure of the contaminant
Confirmed the substance as OSCS, a chemically modified chondroitin sulfate that mimicked some of heparin's properties but caused dangerous side effects
Verified that OSCS activated potentially harmful inflammatory pathways in the body
This critical work not only resolved an immediate public health crisis but also led to improved safety protocols for one of the world's most essential drugs 1 6 . Linhardt's ongoing research focuses on developing chemoenzymatic synthesis methods to produce heparin without animal sources, making this vital drug safer and more sustainable 1 .
The Rosalind Kornfeld Award for Lifetime Achievement in Glycobiology honors scientists whose career-long contributions have significantly impacted the field 1 . The 2019 recipient, Dr. Nancy Dahms of the Medical College of Wisconsin, has dedicated her career to understanding how enzymes are properly targeted within cells, with particular implications for treating lysosomal storage diseases 1 .
Dahms' work focuses on the mannose-6-phosphate receptors that serve as cellular "zip codes" directing newly synthesized enzymes to the lysosome—the cell's recycling center 1 .
In a seminal 1998 paper in Cell, Dahms determined the three-dimensional structure of the mannose-6-phosphate binding domain, providing a molecular blueprint 1 .
Dahms has also generated the first non-mouse model of Fabry disease, a lysosomal storage disorder that causes painful symptoms and organ damage 1 .
When the cellular targeting system fails, enzymes meant for the lysosome end up outside the cell instead, leading to the toxic buildup of undigested materials that characterizes lysosomal storage diseases.
Dahms' α-galactosidase A-deficient rat model closely replicates the human disease, providing a valuable tool for testing new therapies and understanding disease mechanisms.
Glycobiology relies on specialized reagents and technologies to analyze and manipulate complex sugar structures. The 2019 award winners have pioneered many of these essential tools that drive the field forward.
| Research Tool | Function | Example Applications |
|---|---|---|
| Recombinant Golgi Enzymes | Chemoenzymatic synthesis of complex carbohydrates | Production of bioengineered heparin 1 |
| Glycan Microarrays | High-throughput analysis of carbohydrate-protein interactions | Profiling antibody responses to sugar structures |
| CRISPR-Cas9 Systems | Genetic control of glycosylation pathways | Regulating GAG biosynthesis 1 |
| Metabolic Engineering | Redirecting cellular resources to produce target glycans | Large-scale production of heparin and chondroitin sulfates 1 |
| 8-aminopyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonic acid (APTS) | Fluorescent labeling of carbohydrates for separation | Capillary electrophoresis of reducing sugars 5 |
Modern glycobiology depends on sophisticated instrumentation to visualize and characterize complex sugar structures:
Reveals atomic-level three-dimensional structures of carbohydrate-binding proteins and enzymes, as demonstrated in Jochen Zimmer's groundbreaking work on cellulose synthase 2 .
Provides detailed information about glycan composition, structure, and modifications; Manfred Wuhrer has pioneered higher-throughput workflows for clinical applications 3 .
Separates fluorescently labeled glycans with high resolution, enabling sensitive analysis of complex mixtures 5 .
Offers complementary structural information, particularly for understanding dynamic aspects of carbohydrate molecules 1 .
| Technique | Key Information Provided | Research Applications |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-dimensional NMR | 3D structure, dynamics, interactions | Heparin-protein interactions, GAG analysis 1 |
| Mass Spectrometry | Molecular weight, composition, sequence | Glycomics, glycoproteomics, clinical biomarker discovery 3 |
| X-ray Crystallography | Atomic-resolution structures | Enzyme mechanisms, carbohydrate-protein recognition 2 |
| Capillary Electrophoresis | Separation of complex glycan mixtures | Quality control of therapeutic carbohydrates, profiling biological samples 5 |
"From being considered molecules whose role is strictly energetical or structural, glycans are now recognized as complex and diverse structures involved in, and even crucial to, numerous biological processes" 5 .
The work honored by the 2019 Society for Glycobiology awards is already transitioning from fundamental research to real-world applications with transformative potential for medicine and biotechnology.
By deliberately designing specific glycosylation patterns on therapeutic proteins, researchers can enhance drug efficacy and reduce side effects. This approach is particularly valuable for monoclonal antibodies used in cancer treatment .
The unique glycan signatures associated with diseases like cancer are being developed into advanced diagnostic tools that enable earlier detection and more accurate prognosis .
Beyond traditional glycoproteins, researchers are developing synthetic carbohydrate vaccines and glycan-based therapeutics for applications ranging from infectious diseases to cancer immunotherapy 4 .
The development of bioengineered heparin and other complex carbohydrates through metabolic engineering offers a more reliable and ethical alternative to animal-sourced products 1 .
The 2019 Society for Glycobiology award winners exemplify how curiosity-driven basic research can evolve into life-changing applications.
From Linhardt's heparin research that addressed a public health crisis to Dahms' structural insights that illuminate fundamental cellular targeting mechanisms, these scientists have demonstrated that understanding nature's sugar code is essential to advancing human health.
As glycobiology continues to mature, its integration with other disciplines—from chemistry to computational biology—promises to accelerate discovery. The field is poised to deliver increasingly sophisticated solutions to medical challenges, transforming our understanding of biology and creating new avenues for therapeutic intervention. The future of glycobiology appears not just bright, but decidedly sweet, as today's award-winning basic science becomes tomorrow's medical breakthroughs.