There is an urgent need to understand the behavior of the novel coronavirus (SARS-COV-2), which is the causative agent of COVID-19, and to develop point-of-care diagnostics. Here, a glyconanoparticle platform is used to discover that N -acetyl neuraminic acid has affinity toward the SARS-COV-2 spike glycoprotein, demonstrating its glycan-binding function. Optimization of the particle size and coating enabled detection of the spike glycoprotein in lateral flow and showed selectivity over the SARS-COV-1 spike protein. Using a virus-like particle and a pseudotyped lentivirus model, paper-based lateral flow detection was demonstrated in under 30 min, showing the potential of this system as a low-cost detection platform.

The GH94 glycoside hydrolase cellodextrin phosphorylase (CDP, EC 2.4.1.49) produces cellodextrin oligomers from short β-1→4-glucans and α-D-glucose 1-phosphate. Compared to cellobiose phosphorylase (CBP), which produces cellobiose from glucose and α-D-glucose 1-phosphate, CDP is biochemically less well characterised. Herein, we investigate the donor and acceptor substrate specificity of recombinant CDP from Ruminiclostridium thermocellum and we isolate and characterise a glucosamine addition product to the cellobiose acceptor with the non-natural donor α-D-glucosamine 1-phosphate. In addition, we report the first X-ray crystal structure of CDP, along with comparison to the available structures from CBPs and other closely related enzymes, which contributes to understanding of the key structural features necessary to discriminate between monosaccharide (CBP) and oligosaccharide (CDP) acceptor substrates.

<div> <div> <div> <p>There is an urgent need to understand the behavior of novel coronavirus (SARS-COV-2), which is the causative agent of COVID-19, and to develop point-of-care diagnostics. Here, a glyconanoparticle platform is used to discover that N-acetyl neuraminic acid has high affinity towards the SARS-COV-2 spike glycoprotein, demonstrating its glycan-binding function. Optimization of the particle size and coating enabled detection of the spike glycoprotein in lateral flow and showed selectivity over the SARS-COV-1 spike protein. Using a viral particle mimic, paper-based lateral flow detection was demonstrated in under 30 minutes showing the potential of this system as a low-cost detection platform. </p> </div> </div> </div>

The chemoenzymatic synthesis of a series of C6-modified GDP-D-Man sugar nucleotides is described. This provides the first structure−function tools for the GDP-D-ManA producing GDP-D-mannose dehydrogenase (GMD) from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Using a common C6 aldehyde functionalization strategy, chemical synthesis introduces deuterium enrichment, alongside one-carbon homologation at C6 for a series of mannose 1-phosphates. These materials are shown to be substrates for the GDP-mannose pyrophosphorylase from Salmonella enterica, delivering the required toolbox of modified GDP-D-Mans. C6-CH 3 modified sugar-nucleotides are capable of reversibly preventing GDP-ManA production by GMD. The ketone product from oxidation of a C6-CH 3 modified analogue is identified by high-resolution mass spectrometry.