Octopus glycosides: multivalent molecular platforms for testing carbohydrate recognition and bacterial adhesion

Abstract

Multivalency of carbohydrate-protein interactions is critical for cell adhesion, including attachment of bacteria to their host cells. To investigate specific parameters of multivalency effects, a variety of multivalent glycoconjugates has been designed according to different mimetic approaches. Some 15 years ago, carbohydrates were elaborated as multivalent scaffold molecules for the preparation of carbohydrate-centred 'octopus glycosides' as well as of other carbohydrate-centred glycoconjugates. The beginning of this research is reported from a historical perspective and a selection of interesting applications is highlighted.

Keywords: Anti-adhesion therapy; Bacterial adhesion; Glycoclusters; Multivalency; Octopus glycosides; Oligo-mannosylation.