Obstacles and solutions for chemical synthesis of syndecan-3 (53-62) glycopeptides with two heparan sulfate chains

Carbohydr Res. 2016 Nov 29:435:180-194. doi: 10.1016/j.carres.2016.10.005. Epub 2016 Oct 20.

Abstract

Proteoglycans play critical roles in many biological events. Due to their structural complexities, strategies towards synthesis of this class of glycopeptides bearing well-defined glycan chains are urgently needed. In this work, we give the full account of the synthesis of syndecan-3 glycopeptide (53-62) containing two different heparan sulfate chains. For assembly of glycans, a convergent 3+2+3 approach was developed producing two different octasaccharide amino acid cassettes, which were utilized towards syndecan-3 glycopeptides. The glycopeptides presented many obstacles for post-glycosylation manipulation, peptide elongation, and deprotection. Following screening of multiple synthetic sequences, a successful strategy was finally established by constructing partially deprotected single glycan chain containing glycopeptides first, followed by coupling of the glycan-bearing fragments and cleavage of the acyl protecting groups.

Keywords: Carbohydrates; Glycopeptides; Glycosylation; Protecting groups; Synthesis design.

MeSH terms

  • Glycopeptides / chemical synthesis*
  • Glycopeptides / chemistry
  • Glycosylation
  • Heparitin Sulfate / chemistry*
  • Molecular Structure
  • Syndecan-3 / chemistry*

Substances

  • Glycopeptides
  • Syndecan-3
  • Heparitin Sulfate