The Laboratory of Biochemistry and Cell Biology of Glycoconjugates is part of the Program of Glycobiology of the Institute of Medical Biochemistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. The laboratory is coordinated by Prof. Mauro Pavão, PhD and is composed by two Visiting Professors, one Post-Doc, 5 PhD Students, two of them are visiting students from the University of Antioquia, Colombia and from Patras University, Greece. One Master student, and several undergraduate students complete the team.
Our main interest is to study the role of proteoglycans in tumor progression and the effect of non-anticoagulant heparin analogs as inhibitors of tumor cell migration. We have adapted several animal models of metastasis in mice and are currently implementing a new model in zebra fish. Additionally, we are involved in the study of the structure of unique sulfated glycosaminoglycans obtained from marine invertebrates, including those occurring in Antarctica.
