Often overlooked, molecules called glycans regulate COVID-19 spike protein function

Sriram Neelamegham, UB Distinguished Professor of chemical and biological engineering, is among the scientists researching the role that glycans, complex carbohydrates found on the surface of viruses, may play in the function of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

“We discovered that specific N-glycans seem to regulate the development and functional maturation of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein,” Neelamegham said in a story posted to Phys.org. “This is important because the spike protein is very important for viral entry into host cells.” 

Read the story here. Swift Telecast and News Concerns also provided coverage.