[Illustration:  Cameron Slayden]

The cell surface landscape is richly decorated with oligosaccharides anchored to proteins or lipids within the plasma membrane. Cell surface oligosaccharides mediate the interactions of cells with each other and with extracellular matrix components. The important roles that carbohydrates play in biology and medicine have stimulated a rapid expansion of the field of glycobiology.

Science -- 23 March 2001