the endothelial cell to certain bacterial molecules, such as peptidoglycan. P-selectin binds to the SLex structure that is present on neutrophils in the bloodstream and helps to mediate the extravasation of these cells into the surrounding tissue during infection.O-linked glycans, in particular mucin, have been found to be important in developing normal intestinal microflora. Certain strains of intestinal bacteria bind specifically to mucin, allowing them to colonize the intestine. Examples of O''-linked glycoproteins are: Glycophorin, a protein in erythrocyte cell membranes Mucin, a protein in saliva involved in formation of dental plaque Notch, a transmembrane receptor involved in development and cell fate decisions Thrombospondin Factor VII Factor IX Urinary type plasminogen activator Glycosaminoglycans Another type of cellular glycan is the glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). These comprise 2-aminosugars linked in an alternating fashion with uronic acids, and include polymers such as heparin, heparan sulfate, chondroitin, keratan and dermatan. Some glycosaminoglycans, such as heparan sulfate, are found attached to the cell surface, where they are linked through a tetrasacharide linker via a xylosyl residue to a protein (forming a glycoprotein or proteoglycan). Glycoscience A 2012 report from the U.S. National Research Council calls for a new focus on glycoscience, a field that explores the structures and functions of glycans and promises great advances in areas as diverse as medicine, energy generation, and materials science. Until now, glycans have received little attention from the research community due to a lack of tools to probe their often complex structures and properties. The report presents a roadmap for transforming glycoscience from a field dominated by specialists to a widely studied and integrated discipline. Glycans and lipids See glycolipids GPI-Anchors See glycophosphatidylinositol Tools used for glycan research The following are examples of the commonly used techniques in glycan analysis: High-resolution mass spectrometry (MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) The most commonly applied methods are MS and HPLC, in which the glycan part is cleaved either enzymatically or chemically from the target and subjected to analysis. In case of glycolipids, they can be analyzed directly without separation of the lipid component. N-glycans from glycoproteins are analyzed routinely by high-performance-liquid-chromatography (reversed phase, normal phase and ion exchange HPLC) after tagging the reducing end of the sugars with a fluorescent compound (reductive labeling). A large variety of different labels were introduced in the recent years, where 2-aminobenzamide (AB), anthranilic acid (AA), 2-aminopyridin (PA), 2-aminoacridone (AMAC) and 3-(acetylamino)-6-aminoacridine (AA-Ac) are just a