The function of protein paucimannosylation remains largely unexplored in vertebrates. Recent literature however has emerged demonstrating that paucimannosylation play roles in mediating pathophysiological processes such as in inflammation, pathogen infection, cancer and in the development of stem cells and in normal homeostasis. For example, elevated expression of paucimannosidic proteins was shown in Mycobacterium tuberculosis infected macrophages, during preclampsia and on Tamm-Horsfall proteins secreted by human urothelial cells during urinary tract infections suggesting the involvement of paucimannosylation in those conditions. Additionally, sputum from individuals suffering from cystic fibrosis and airway infections were also observed to be rich in paucimannosidic proteins. Furthermore, paucimannosylation was reported to be prominent features of human neutrophils  and in monocytes and macrophages. Recent literature have also demonstrated elevated signatures of paucimannosidic proteins associated with a range of human cancers including brain, breast, blood, melanoma, non-melanoma, liver, ovarian and prostate cancers. Enriched paucimannosidic glycoepitopes were found in the tumours when compared to the adjacent non-tumour tissues. Literature have also reported the presence of paucimannosylation in embryonic stem cells and neuronal stem cells, suggesting potential functional role(s) in these cells. Notably, deficiency of hexosaminidases results in clinically significant Tay-Sachs and Sandhoff diseases, which also implicates Hex and paucimannosidic proteins in those conditions.
Endogenous and exogenous binding partners of mammalian paucimannosidic glycans have been suggested, including the macrophage mannose receptor (CD206) and dectin-2. Other putative endogenous paucimannosidic protein receptors such as dectin-1, DC-SIGN and DC-SIGNR have been proposed, but experimental support is still lacking. Exogeneous binders of paucimannosidic glycans such as the Escherichia coli FimH and P. aeruginosa PA-IIL were also reported to play important roles in the adhesion and pathophysiology of these opportunistic pathogens.