Chemical Synthesis of Glycosaminoglycans

Chem Rev. 2016 Jul 27;116(14):8193-255. doi: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.6b00010. Epub 2016 Jul 13.

Abstract

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) as one major part of the glycocalyx are involved in many essential biological cell processes, as well as in many courses of diseases. Because of the potential therapeutic application of GAG polymers, fragments, and also derivatives toward different diseases (e.g., heparin derivatives against Alzheimer's disease), there is a continual growing demand for new chemical syntheses, which suffice the high claim to stereoselectivity and chemoselectivity. This Review summarizes the progress of chemical syntheses of GAGs over the last 10 years. For each class of the glycosaminoglycans-hyaluronan (HA), heparan sulfate/heparin (HS/HP), chondroitin/dermatan sulfate (CS/DS), and keratan sulfate (KS)-mainly novel glycosylation strategies, elongation sequences, and protecting group patterns are discussed, but also (semi)automated syntheses, enzymatic approaches, and functionalizations of synthesized or isolated GAGs are considered.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Combinatorial Chemistry Techniques
  • Disaccharides / chemistry
  • Glycosaminoglycans / chemical synthesis*
  • Glycosaminoglycans / chemistry
  • Glycosylation
  • Monosaccharides / chemistry

Substances

  • Disaccharides
  • Glycosaminoglycans
  • Monosaccharides