10.1016/S0960-894X(01)00550-9
The research focuses on the efficient synthesis of lactosaminylated core-2 O-glycans, which are essential components of mucin-type O-glycans found in various biological systems. The synthesis was achieved using a block strategy, involving the addition of a protected lactosamine donor to a partially protected T-disaccharide derivative. Key reactants included ethyl 3,6-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-2-phthalimido-1-thio-β-D-glucopyranoside and 2,6-di-O-acetyl-3,4-di-O-chloroacetyl-α-D-galactopyranosyl chloride, which were coupled to form a bifunctional disaccharide donor. Further reactions and enzymatic digestions with β-galactosidase from jack beans were performed to produce a series of tri- to hexasaccharides. The synthesized compounds were analyzed using NMR and mass spectrometry to confirm their structures, and they are currently being evaluated for their roles in the kinetic study of glycosyltransferases.