New Strategies for Glycopeptide, Neoglycopeptide, and Glycoprotein Synthesis

Abstract

The field of glycopeptide and homogenous glycoprotein (gp) synthesis is of current interest to many laboratories worldwide. With over 50% of human proteins being glycosylated there is increasing evidence that glycoproteins are playing a central role in many important biological processes and disease developments. The recent discovery that human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-neutralizing antibodies (Abs), 2G12, recognize a conserved and unusually dense cluster of oligomannose residues on the gp120 of HIV-1 highlights the importance of glycoproteins in biological processes and in the design of novel immunogens. In addition, glycoproteins hold great interest in drug discovery as presented by over 60 recombinant glycoproteins that are in development stages. Yet, there are remaining challenges to overcome in several aspects of glycan, glycopeptide, and glycoprotein synthesis to obtain homogenous products in a more effective manner. In this chapter we are surveying the strategies that are used to synthesize these complex natural structures and their mimetics with emphases on recent developments in these fields.