Carbohydrate signaling in the brain

Abstract

Chem. neurobiol. is rapidly evolving and providing insights into the mols. and interactions involved in neural development, sensory perception and memory storage. We will describe the synergistic application of org. chem. and neurobiol. to understand how specific carbohydrate mols. contribute to the wiring of the brain during development. Chondroitin sulfate glycosaminoglycans have traditionally been viewed as passive, "barrier" mols. that impede neuronal growth. By combining synthetic org. and polymer chem., computational chem., cell biol. and in vivo biol., we now show that these mols. actively participate in signaling events that underlie the formation of neural circuits.

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