7 research outputs found
A Role for Fucose α(1â2) Galactose Carbohydrates in Neuronal Growth
We report a fucose α(1â2) galactose-mediated pathway for the modulation of neuronal growth and morphology. Our studies provide strong evidence for the presence of Fucα(1â2)Gal glycoproteins and lectin receptors in hippocampal neurons. Additionally, we show that manipulation of Fucα(1â2)Gal-associated proteins using small-molecule and lectin probes induces dramatic changes in neuronal morphology. These findings may provide a novel pathway to stimulate neuronal growth and regeneration
A Solvent-Free Method for Isotopically or Radioactively Labeling Cyclodextrins and Cyclodextrin-Containing Polymers
A method for installing a distinguishable label onto cyclodextrins or cyclodextrin-containing polymers is reported. Cyclodextrins (CD) and cyclodextrin-containing polymers are exposed to labeled (^2H or ^(14)C) ethylene oxide (EO) vapor and the alcohol groups on the CD ring open the EO to give ether-linked labeled methylenes and a terminal alcohol. This method provides for the incorporation of an easily tracked and quantified label without the use of solvents or purification steps. The method can be generalized for use with materials that contain nucleophiles other than alcohols, e.g., amines
A Solvent-Free Method for Isotopically or Radioactively Labeling Cyclodextrins and Cyclodextrin-Containing Polymers
A method for installing a distinguishable label onto cyclodextrins or cyclodextrin-containing polymers is reported. Cyclodextrins (CD) and cyclodextrin-containing polymers are exposed to labeled (^2H or ^(14)C) ethylene oxide (EO) vapor and the alcohol groups on the CD ring open the EO to give ether-linked labeled methylenes and a terminal alcohol. This method provides for the incorporation of an easily tracked and quantified label without the use of solvents or purification steps. The method can be generalized for use with materials that contain nucleophiles other than alcohols, e.g., amines
Chemically Defined Sialoside Scaffolds for Investigation of Multivalent Interactions with Sialic Acid Binding Proteins
Four glycodendrons and a glycocluster were synthesized from carbohydrate building blocks to form paucivalent (di- to tetravalent) structures of controlled scaffold architectures. Enzymatic sialylation of the functionalized cluster and dendrons, terminated in lactose residues, generated a library of paucivalent synthetic sialosides displaying sialic acids with different dispositions. These newly constructed bioactive sialic acid-based structures were differentially recognized by sialoadhesin, a mammalian macrophage sialic acid binding protein. The binding of the sialosides to sialoadhesin was evaluated by an enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay to investigate the complementarity of scaffold structure and binding to sialoadhesin. Modulating the interaction between sialoadhesin and its sialic acid ligands has important implications in immunobiology
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Porphyrinâcontaining glycodendrimers
Two dendrimers, incorporating tetrasubstituted porphyrin units as their cores and, in one case, four perbenzoylated and, in the other case, twelve peracetylated ÎČâDâglucopyranosyl residues at their peripheries, have been synthesized in yields of 39 and 16%, respectively. The deprotection of these dendrimers was achieved quantitatively under ZemplĂ©n conditions. The protected and deprotected dendrimers were characterized by liquid secondaryâion or matrixâassisted laser desorption ionization timeâofâflight mass spectrometry and by a combination of oneâ and twoâdimensional 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. All the glycodendrimers were also characterized by absorption and emission spectroscopy, and lifetime measurements. The most relevant result is that both protected and deprotected dendrimers show two fluorescence lifetime values that are different from the porphyrin model compounds. (© WileyâVCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2003