glycosylation
/ˌɡlaɪkoʊsəˈleɪʃən/
noun
- A chemical process in which a sugar molecule attaches to another molecule, such as a protein or lipid, often affecting the function of that molecule in living organisms.
- Glycosylation is important for the proper folding of many proteins in the human body.
- Scientists study glycosylation to understand how cells communicate with each other.
- Changes in glycosylation patterns can be a sign of certain diseases like cancer.