哥本哈根大学的科学家开展在一项新的研究证实，特定类型的碳水化合物在控制细胞生长的信号和神经系统的发育中起着重要的作用。特别是这碳水化合物的缺陷可能导致细胞生长失控为特征的神经纤维瘤病遗传性疾病以及其它某些类型的癌症。相关研究论文发表在PNAS期刊上。
哥本哈根大学卫生和医学科学学院在的科学家在显微镜下运用一种特殊种类的果蝇开展研究。研究结果证实一中特定的碳水化合物组，即所谓的糖脂，其对细胞的复杂通信系统有影响。从长远来看，这种模型的研究可以给神经纤维瘤病患者带来益处。
医生在神经科学和药理学教授Ole Kjærulff等表示：现在，我们发现最重要的事情是碳水化合物在细胞之间的沟通交流中有新功能。我们还揭示了如何干扰给信号通路引起细胞生长的变化。
糖脂存在于细胞膜上，发挥各种功能如保护细胞或被免疫系统识别。在果蝇模型中，我们阻止糖链的延长后，我们发现碳水化合物在控制正常细胞的生长中起着重要的作用。当糖链被缩短时，组织生长、细胞分裂显著增加。特别是糖链对中枢神经系统的神经胶质细胞的影响最明显。（生物谷：Bioon.com）
doi:10.1073/pnas.1115453109
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Neurofibromatosis-like phenotype in Drosophila caused by lack of glucosylceramide extension
Katja Dahlgaarda, Anita Jungb, Klaus Qvortrupc, Henrik Clausena, Ole Kjaerulffb, and Hans H. Wandalla
Glycosphingolipids (GSLs) are of fundamental importance in the nervous system. However, the molecular details associated with GSL function are largely unknown, in part because of the complexity of GSL biosynthesis in vertebrates. In Drosophila, only one major GSL biosynthetic pathway exists, controlled by the glycosyltransferase Egghead (Egh). Here we discovered that loss of Egh causes overgrowth of peripheral nerves and attraction of immune cells to the nerves. This phenotype is reminiscent of the human disorder neurofibromatosis type 1, which is characterized by disfiguring nerve sheath tumors with mast cell infiltration, increased cancer risk, and learning deficits. Neurofibromatosis type 1 is due to a reduction of the tumor suppressor neurofibromin, a negative regulator of the small GTPase Ras. Enhanced Ras signaling promotes glial growth through activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and its downstream kinase Akt. We find that overgrowth of peripheral nerves in egh mutants is suppressed by down-regulation of the PI3K signaling pathway by expression of either dominant-negative PI3K, the tumor suppressor PTEN, or the transcription factor FOXO in the subperineurial glia. These results show that loss of the glycosyltransferase Egh affects membrane signaling and activation of PI3K signaling in glia of the peripheral nervous system, and suggest that glycosyltransferases may suppress proliferation.
