Phosphates as Assisting Groups in Glycan Synthesis
Eric T. Sletten, Giulio Fittolani, Nives Hribernik, Marlene C. S. Dal Colle, Peter H. Seeberger, Martina Delbianco
Abstract
In nature, phosphates are added to and cleaved from molecules to direct biological pathways. The concept was adapted to overcome limitations in the chemical synthesis of complex oligosaccharides. Phosphates were chemically placed on synthetic glycans to ensure site-specific enzymatic elongation by sialylation. In addition, the deliberate placement of phosphates helped to solubilize and isolate aggregating glycans. Upon traceless removal of the phosphates by enzymatic treatment with alkaline phosphatase, the native glycan structure was revealed, and the assembly of glycan nanostructures was triggered.
Topics & Concepts
GlycanChemistryEnzymeAlkaline phosphataseCombinatorial chemistryBiochemistryGlycoproteinCarbohydrate Chemistry and SynthesisGlycosylation and Glycoproteins ResearchProteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans research