Synthesis of Biologically Active Glycopeptides

Abstract

AbstractProtein glycosylation is an important post‐translational event; however, the role carbohydrates play in glycoprotein structure and function is poorly understood, mainly due to the difficulty associated with the synthesis of this class of molecules. This review describes the types and functions of glycopeptides found in nature and the synthesis of biologically active glycopeptides, including vaccines, antibiotics, ligands of receptors involved in signaling, and various structural motifs found in glycoproteins. The synthetic strategies described in this review cover both chemical and enzymatic methods. In addition, structural studies of synthetic glycopeptides and their mimetics, and chemoenzymatic synthesis of complex glycoproteins with well‐defined carbohydrate structure for the study of the effect of glycosylation on protein structure and function are also discussed.