The chemoenzymatic synthesis of neoglycolipids and lipid-linked oligosaccharides using glycosyltransferases.

The application of glycosyltransferases to the chemoenzymatic synthesis of neoglycosphingolipids and lipid-linked oligosaccharides allows the regio- and stereoselective formation of glycosidic bonds. In our laboratory galactosyl-, sialyl-, and fucosyltransferases have been used to assemble oligosaccharide headgroups directly on a sphingosine derivative without the need for any protection group strategies, including the Lewisx antigen. In complementary studies on N-linked oligosaccharide biosynthesis, chemically phosphorylated dolichol analogues have been tested as substrates for Dol-P-Man synthetase. Also, the substrate recognition of the core beta-1,4-mannosyltransferase from yeast has been investigated using a range of chitobiose derivatives as potential substrates.