Cell Surface Glycans: From Recognition Technologies and Functional Editing to Medical Applications

Abstract

Cell-surface glycans play essential roles in cell communication, immune recognition, and disease progression. Their medical applications are supported by two important technological pillars: glycan recognition and glycan editing. This Review focuses on three key directions: recognition technologies, namely, in situ imaging and glycomic profiling, for detecting and profiling glycans; functional editing technologies, including genetic, enzymatic, chemical, and metabolic approaches, for precisely remodelling glycans; and medical applications driven by the synergy between recognition and editing, with a focus on four areas: biomarkers, lectin-based therapies, precision glycan editing, and cancer immunotherapy. Throughout the Review, five representative glycan classes—high-mannose N-glycans, mucin-type O-GalNAc, heparan sulfate, ganglioside GM3, and glycoRNAs—are used as recurring examples wherever possible. This Review offers an integrated perspective to navigate the process by which glycan recognition and editing technologies collectively drive the translation of cell-surface glycan research into clinical practice.