Breakthrough of glycobiology in the 21st century

Abstract

As modern medicine began to emerge at the turn of the 20th century, glycan-based therapies advanced. DNA- and protein-centered therapies became widely available. The research and development of structurally defined carbohydrates have led to new tools and methods that have sparked interest in the therapeutic applications of glycans. One of the latest omics disciplines to emerge in the contemporary post-genomics age is glycomics. In addition, to providing hope for patients and people with different health conditions through a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of common complex diseases, this new specialty in system sciences has much to offer to communities involved in the development of diagnostics and therapeutics in medicine and life sciences.This review focuses on recent developments that have pushed glycan-based therapies into the spotlight in medicine and the technologies powering these initiatives, which we can take as the most significant success of the 21st century.

Stereoselective Synthesis of the Gal‐α‐(1→3)‐Gal‐β‐(1→3)‐GlcNAc Trisaccharide: a new Ligand for DCAR and Mincle C‐Type Lectin Receptors

“…The crude was filtered on silica gel (ethyl acetate:petroleum ether 1 : 2 and 0.2 % of triethylamine) to give 8 (184 mg, 79 % yield) as a white glassy solid. 1 H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl 3 ) δ: 8.66 (s, 1H, H N ), 6.65 (d, J 1-2 = 3.5 Hz, 1H), 5.52-5.49 (m, 1H), 5.44-5.43 (m, 1H), 5.33-5.30 (m, 1H), 5.29-5.27 (m, 1H), 5.23 (dd, J = 10.4 Hz, J = 3.1 Hz, 1H), 4.47-4.44 (m, 1H), 4.41 (dd, J = 10.7 Hz, J = 3.0 Hz, 1H), 4.35 (at, J = 6.8 Hz, 1H), 4.17 (at, J = 9.8 Hz, 1H), 4.16 (dd, J = 11.1 Hz, J = 2.0 Hz, 1H), 4.05 (dd, J = 11.3 Hz, J = 6.6 Hz, 1H), 3.98 (dd, J = 11.0 Hz, J = 5.5 Hz, 1H), 2.16 (s, 3H), 2.14 (s, 3H), 2.08 (s, 3H), 2.07 (s, 3H), 2.02 (s, 3H), 2.00 (s, 3H), 1.96 (s, 3H). 13…”

“…The crude was filtered on silica gel (ethyl acetate:petroleum ether 1 : 1) to give 3 (306 mg, quantitative yield) as a white glassy solid. 1 H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl 3 ) δ: 7.62-7.59 (m, 2H), 7.41-7.37 (m, 5H), 7.32-7.27 (m, 3H), 5.52 (s, 1H, H benzylidene), 5.04 (at, J = 9.7 Hz, 1H, H-2), 4.64 (d, J 1-2 = 9.8 Hz, 1H, H-1), 4.41-4.38 (A part of an ABX system, J A-B = 12.5 Hz, J A-X = 1.3 Hz, 1H, H-6), 4.23 (ad, J = 3.6 Hz, 1H, H-4), 4.06-4.02 (B part of an ABX system, J B-A = 12.5 Hz, J B-X = 1.6 Hz, 1H, H-6), 3.76-3.74 (m, 1H, H-3), 3.58-3.56 (m, 1H, H-5), 2.14 (s, 3H, -OAc). NMR data agree with literature.…”

“…Glycoscience is becoming an essential part of modern molecular medicine, [1] a cutting‐edge omics that is steadily making striking advances [2] opening new frontiers of knowledge. The discovery of the role of the glycocalyx in cell recognition processes has inspired innovative strategies aimed at the understanding of the glyco‐code and getting structural and functional insight on lectins, the key readers of information encoded by glycans [3,4] .…”

“…The discovery of the role of the glycocalyx in cell recognition processes has inspired innovative strategies aimed at the understanding of the glyco‐code and getting structural and functional insight on lectins, the key readers of information encoded by glycans [3,4] . The deciphering of the fundamental role of glycans in biological systems and of altered glycosylations as active drivers of several human diseases [5] has also put in the spotlight the potential of glycoscience in providing a new generation of glycan‐based therapeutics [1] …”

“…[3,4] The deciphering of the fundamental role of glycans in biological systems and of altered glycosylations as active drivers of several human diseases [5] has also put in the spotlight the potential of glycoscience in providing a new generation of glycan-based therapeutics. [1] In this framework, a vibrant and dynamic area of research concerns approaches that target lectins. [6,7] To mention some, a small molecule E-selectin [8] inhibitor, Uproleselan, is undergoing late-stage clinical trials.…”