Hyaluronan-chondroitin hybrid oligosaccharides as new life science research tools.

Hyaluronan and chondroitin are glycosaminoglycans well-known as components of pharmaceutical agents and health foods. From these attractive molecules, using transglycosylation reaction of testicular hyaluronidase, we synthesized hybrid neo-oligosaccharides not found in nature. We also found a new site between the chondroitin disaccharide unit and hyaluronan disaccharide unit recognized by a hyaluronan lyase specific to hyaluronan using these hybrid oligosaccharides as substrates. We hope that these hybrid oligosaccharides will help to elucidate the involvement of hyaluronan, chondroitin, and chondroitin sulfates in the mechanisms of cell functions and diseases, based on the structures of these glycosaminoglycans.