Figure 5. Defining the thermodynamics of glycan-protein interactions.

In many cases, glycan-protein interactions are multivalent, involving multiple 1:1 interactions where the surfaces can either be two cells, or in the case of influenza A, the virus particle and a host cell. From our understanding of the thermodynamic relationships above, to define a glycan-protein interaction, it is critical to define N, as only then can the precise relationship be determined between ΔG_poly, K_poly, and α. Development of biochemical and array systems where N can be defined thus have been and will continue to be a priority. Alternatively, if N is unknown, information can still be derived, but precise relationships, including cooperativity, cannot be determined.