# N-Glycosylation and Ocular Surface Homeostasis

> **NIH NIH R01** · SCHEPENS EYE RESEARCH INSTITUTE · 2020 · $492,500

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
All cells in nature are coated with a diverse mixture of glycans called the glycocalyx that functions as the
primary interface with the environment. The structure of the glycocalyx is controlled by a series of
glycosyltransferases, glycosidases and glycan-modifying enzymes that collectively assemble and process
monosaccharide moieties to generate cell surface signatures in a tissue-specific manner. Recent findings
indicate cell surface glycans perform important roles in stem cells and have a critical impact during both
developmental processes and maintenance of homeostasis in the adult.
 This proposal centers on a major gap in our understanding of how cell surface glycans contribute to
maintain limbal epithelial stem cell homeostasis. The proliferative capacity of the stem cells in tissues with high
cellular turnover has to be precisely regulated to maintain regenerative capacity while preventing abnormal
growth. It has become increasingly clear that modification of cell surface receptors by core fucosylation is
critical to promote specific signal tranduction pathways and to regulate biological functions relevant to cell
proliferation and differentiation. We hypothesize that lack of core fucosylation plays an important role in
modulating the proliferative capacity of limbal epithelial stem cells and in promoting their self-renewal
properties.
 The following specific aims will address this objective: (1) to identify glycan signatures in limbal epithelial
stem cells and how they change during differentiation, (2) to investigate the contribution of FUT8, the only
fucosyltransferase that catalyzes the addition of core fucose to N-glycans, in regulating growth factor receptor
signaling and cellular turnover in limbal epithelial cells, and (3) to investigate whether core fucosylation can be
used as a novel method to isolate and transplant limbal epithelial stem cells with high self-renewal and
proliferative capacities. It is anticipated that this research will have significant translational relevance given the
emerging focus on cell replacement therapies for limbal stem cell deficiency.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9973535
- **Project number:** 2R01EY026147-05
- **Recipient organization:** SCHEPENS EYE RESEARCH INSTITUTE
- **Principal Investigator:** Pablo Argueso
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $492,500
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2016-08-01 → 2024-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9973535

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9973535, N-Glycosylation and Ocular Surface Homeostasis (2R01EY026147-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9973535. Licensed CC0.

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