Direct Evidence for Hydrogen Bonding in Glycans: A
Combined NMR and Molecular Dynamics Study
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Abstract
We introduce the abundant hydroxyl
groups of glycans as NMR handles
and structural probes to expand the repertoire of tools for structure–function
studies on glycans in solution. To this end, we present the facile
detection and assignment of hydroxyl groups in a wide range of sample
concentrations (0.5–1700 mM) and temperatures, ranging from
−5 to 25 °C. We then exploit this information to directly
detect hydrogen bonds, well-known for their importance in molecular
structural determination through NMR. Via HSQC-TOCSY, we were able
to determine the directionality of these hydrogen bonds in sucrose.
Furthermore, by means of molecular dynamics simulations in conjunction
with NMR, we establish that one out of the three detected hydrogen
bonds arises from intermolecular interactions. This finding may shed
light on glycan–glycan interactions and glycan recognition
by proteins