Embryo development hinges on sugar-modified proteins, study demonstrates

Protein modifications are key to cell survival because they ensure they do what they are supposed to do in a healthy system. One vital modification involves adding sugar molecules to proteins, a process known as glycosylation. Previous studies have shown that this modification is required for the dynamic regulation of essential cellular functions, such as the cell's life cycle, and even how cells break down sugar to create energy (a process known as glycolysis).