Figure 3.

Analogy of the sialome to the canopy of a forest. Five hierarchical levels of structural and organizational complexities are compared. Sia structures are assimilated with tree leaves and flowers (a); Sia linkages are compared to tree stems (b); Underlying glycans are like branches of trees (c); Glycan classes are compared with the tree trunks (d); and finally the spatial organization of glycans and their surroundings are assimilated to the entire forest (e). Figure reproduced with permission.86