Preface

This book describes the fundamental concept of glycosylation and reflects the wide range of research currently being practiced in the field of proteins. Apart from proteins, most of the concepts of glycosylation are applicable to other biological macromolecules including nucleic acids and lipids. Chapter 2 provides an overview of advanced glycation end products to explain non-enzymatic glycation.

Since the emergence of newer techniques like proteomics and lipidomics, deciphering the site of glycosylation within proteins and lipids respectively has now enabled us to identify the targeted site upon which the glycosylation occurred. To give researchers and non-specialist readers a scientific understanding, this book explains not only the concept of glycosylation but also discusses recent techniques of glycoproteomics to screen the sites of glycosylation. Numerous approaches of performing glycosylation enrichment, which has great importance in medicine and health, are also explained.

Sialylation, similar to glycosylation, also has a role in modifying biological macromolecules, including various intracellular and extracellular proteins. The overview and understanding of sialic acid, glycans, and glycoconjugates simultaneously with the mechanism of glycosylation provide additional insights.

Since the introduction of SARS-CoV-2, several new variants of coronaviruses have been identified. SARS-CoV-2 is a potential threat to the human community, and it is very important to know every aspect of this virus infection, phage transmission, and its regulation within the cells. Therefore, in this edition of the book, we include a chapter describing the role of post-translational modification that has a significant role in SARS-CoV-2 infection. The book also discusses another post-translational modification including palmitoylation and phosphorylation of the viral spike and envelope proteins along with their significance in the pathogenesis of the viral infection phase. Because the current understanding and knowledge for SARS-CoV-2 is limited, it is very important for readers to understand its pathogenesis mechanism and post-translational modifications.

We would like to thank the contributing authors for the time they have given in preparing their chapters and providing essential knowledge and scientific understanding of concepts of glycosylation. We would also like to acknowledge the Author Service Manager at IntechOpen for assisting at every step of the book publication.

> **Alok Raghav** Multidisciplinary Research Unit, GSVM Medical College, Kanpur, India

> > **Jamal Ahmad** J.N Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India

Section 1 Introduction
