Glycosyl transfer: a history of the concept's development and view of its major contributions to biochemistry

Humans have fewer protein-coding genes than expected for all the inherent complexities of development. Supplementary factors include the post-translational modification of proteins by glycosylation. The latter term plus transglycosylation, glycosyltransferases, and 'to glycosylate' are used in biochemistry as though they always existed. Instead they have a history that can bring new insights in this science area to younger investigators. The present account describes five decades of findings and ideas on enzymic saccharide synthesis leading, finally to a rational theory that will surely continue to serve the biosciences well in the future. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.