Includes bibliographical references (p. [102]-109) and index.
1. The carbohydrates of glycoproteins. History. Microheterogeneity of bound carbohydrates. Function of bound carbohydrates. Inducible changes in bound carbohydrates. Programmed changes in bound carbohydrates. A possible role for bound carbohydrates -- 2. Derivatives of neuraminic acid. Sialic acids. Distribution of sialic acids in nature. The state of sialic acids in nature. The metabolism of hexosamines and sialic acids. Metabolic control of hexosamines and sialic acids. Asparagine N-glycosylation. Processing of lysosomal enzymes. Biosynthesis of O-linked oligosaccharides. Modification of sialic acids. Sialidases (neuraminidases). Genetic metabolic disorders involving sialic acids. Glycosidases. Bound carbohydrates in malignancy -- 3. Multidrug resistance. Properties of P-glycoprotein. Lysosomes and multidrug resistance. Kinetics of influx and efflux of drugs. Modulation of multidrug resistance. The role of lipids in the accumulation of drugs by MDR cells.