Creating a Synthetic Platform for Understanding and Exploiting Glycoconjugates
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Oxford
Department Name: Oxford Chemistry
Abstract
The evidence for the importance of carbohydrates in biology is increasing exponentially. Unlike other biomolecules (lipids, proteins, nucleosides) significant expertise is needed in the construction of corresponding glycoconjugate probes used to understand and exploit this biology: for example, no automated oligosaccharide synthesizer to date exists for the construction of all the glycoside linkages. The possible permutations for something as simple as the hexasaccharide structures stretch to greater than 1.05 x 1012 possible combinations. This level of complexity highlights that synthesis of glycoconjugates must be guided by functional design, and cannot simply be achieved through random synthesis of all possible combinations. There are a number of startling and challenging high-risk problems that exist in the field of glycoscience that the Platform would allow us to tackle. The risk is high, the challenges of complexity great (due, in part, to the typical lack of direct genetic control of glycoconjugate synthesis within biology) but the potential rewards are tremendous.
Organisations
Publications
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Van Kasteren SI
(2007)
Expanding the diversity of chemical protein modification allows post-translational mimicry.
in Nature
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Shao L
(2007)
Removal of amorphous carbon for the efficient sidewall functionalisation of single-walled carbon nanotubes.
in Chemical communications (Cambridge, England)
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Bolam DN
(2007)
The crystal structure of two macrolide glycosyltransferases provides a blueprint for host cell antibiotic immunity.
in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
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Stanca-Kaposta EC
(2007)
Carbohydrate molecular recognition: a spectroscopic investigation of carbohydrate-aromatic interactions.
in Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP
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A Celik
(2007)
Creating new Tools for a Formic Acid Economy: Cloning & Structure of Novel Dehydrogenases
in in preparation
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Campo VL
(2007)
Chemical and chemoenzymatic synthesis of glycosyl-amino acids and glycopeptides related to Trypanosoma cruzi mucins.
in Organic & biomolecular chemistry
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Yang M
(2007)
A glycosynthase catalyst for the synthesis of flavonoid glycosides.
in Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)
![publication icon](/resources/img/placeholder-60x60.png)
Screen J
(2007)
IR-spectral signatures of aromatic-sugar complexes: probing carbohydrate-protein interactions.
in Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)
![publication icon](/resources/img/placeholder-60x60.png)
A Celik
(2007)
Direct Biocatalytic Conversion of Carbon Dioxide: Towards a Formic Acid Economy
in in preparation
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Bernardes GJ
(2007)
A trisulfide-linked glycoprotein.
in Chemical communications (Cambridge, England)
Description | This Platform grant allowed us scientific freedom to explore some highly unconventional ideas for how molecules containing sugars (so-called glycoconjugates) might work in nature and might be used in medicine. From this work we have discovered new sugar-based drugs to treat disease (including new classes of antibiotics), new ways of detecting disease at a much earlier stage (e.g. TB or MS) and new ways of understanding how nature handles and builds sugars. |
Exploitation Route | The fundamental discoveries are allowing those interested in applications, such as diagnosing or treating disease to do this based on a better understanding. We too are developing these techniques, in partnership with leading clinicians. |
Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Chemicals Environment Healthcare Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
URL | http://users.ox.ac.uk/~dplb0149/ |
Description | BGD and group members have appeared on the radio, television, (BBD, Channel 5), newspapers and journals (The Times, The Herald, New Scientist) science festivals around the world (Cheltenham, Kent, Edinburgh, Times Lit., Sydney) describing this work. We have given talks in schools to inspire the next generation. The work contributed strongly to industrial growth in the biotech sector worldwide and was cited in the BBSRC Innovator of the Year Finalist Citation 2010 for BGD, for example. BGD talked about this work at the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee. |
First Year Of Impact | 2007 |
Sector | Chemicals,Creative Economy,Environment,Healthcare,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
Impact Types | Cultural Societal Economic Policy & public services |
Description | BBSRC Grouped |
Amount | £508,027 (GBP) |
Funding ID | BB/J009725/1 |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2012 |
End | 12/2014 |
Description | BBSRC Grouped |
Amount | £508,027 (GBP) |
Funding ID | BB/J009725/1 |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2012 |
End | 12/2014 |
Company Name | GlycoForm |
Description | |
Year Established | 2002 |
Impact | Employed >20 people over 10 years and provided a model for how synthetic protein drugs might be constructed and used. The technology for this company has now been used by major US companies. |