Synthetic oligosaccharides and glycoconjugates are increasingly used as probes for biological research and as lead compounds for drug and vaccine discovery. These endeavors are, however, complicated by a lack of general methods for the routine preparation of this important class of compounds. Recent development such as one-pot multi-step protecting group manipulations, the use of unified monosaccharide building blocks, the introduction of stereoselective glycosylation protocols, and convergent strategies for oligosaccharide assembly, are beginning to address these problems. Furthermore, oligosaccharide synthesis can be facilitated by chemo-enzymatic methods, which employ a range of glycosyl transferases to modify a synthetic oligosaccharide precursor. Glycosynthases, which are mutant glycosidases, that can readily form glycosidic linkages are addressing a lack of a wide range glycosyltransferases. The power of carbohydrate chemistry is highlighted by an ability to synthesize glycoproteins.There is a growing appreciation that posttranslational modifications, such as glycosylation, dramatically increase protein complexity and function. [1][2][3][4][5][6] For example, almost all cell surface and secreted proteins are modified by covalently-linked carbohydrate moieties and the glycan structures on these glycoproteins have been implicated as essential mediators in processes such as protein folding, cell signaling, fertilization, embryogenesis, neuronal development, hormone activity, and the proliferation of cells and their organization into specific tissues. In addition, overwhelming data supports the relevance of glycans in pathogen recognition, inflammation, innate immune responses, and the development of autoimmune diseases and cancer. [7][8][9][10] The importance of protein glycosylation is also underscored by the developmental abnormalities observed in a growing number of human disorders known as Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation caused by defects in the glycosylation machinery. 11Polysaccharides are major constituents of the microbial cell surfaces and, for example, the bacterial cell wall can contain relatively large amounts of capsular polysaccharides (CPS) or lipopolysaccharides (LPS). 12 These components are important virulence factors by promoting bacterial colonization, blocking phagocytosis, and interfering with leukocyte migration and adhesion. CPS and LPS can be recognized by receptors of the innate immune system leading to the production of cytokines, chemokines, and cellular adhesion molecules.13 -16 With a few exceptions, bacterial polysaccharides can induce an adaptive immune response and, not surprisingly, bacterial saccharides have been employed for the development of vaccines for several pathogens.17 -20

We identified biallelic mutations in NANS, the gene encoding the synthase for N-acetylneuraminic acid (NeuNAc; sialic acid), in nine individuals with infantile-onset severe developmental delay and skeletal dysplasia. Patient body fluids showed an elevation in N-acetyl-D-mannosamine levels, and patient-derived fibroblasts had reduced NANS activity and were unable to incorporate sialic acid precursors into sialylated glycoproteins. Knockdown of nansa in zebrafish embryos resulted in abnormal skeletal development, and exogenously added sialic acid partially rescued the skeletal phenotype. Thus, NANS-mediated synthesis of sialic acid is required for early brain development and skeletal growth. Normal sialylation of plasma proteins was observed in spite of NANS deficiency. Exploration of endogenous synthesis, nutritional absorption, and rescue pathways for sialic acid in different tissues and developmental phases is warranted to design therapeutic strategies to counteract NANS deficiency and to shed light on sialic acid metabolism and its implications for human nutrition. DOI: https://doi.org/10. 1038/ng.3578 Posted at the Zurich Open Repository and Archive, University of Zurich ZORA URL: https://doi.org/10.5167/uzh-130493 Accepted Version Originally published at: van Karnebeek, Clara D M; Bonafé, Luisa; Wen, Xiao-Yan; Tarailo-Graovac, Maja; Balzano, Sara; RoyerBertrand, Beryl; Ashikov, Angel; Garavelli, Livia; Mammi, Isabella; Turolla, Licia; Breen, Catherine; Donnai, Dian; Cormier, Valerie; Heron, Delphine; Nishimura, Gen; Uchikawa, Shinichi; Campos-Xavier, Belinda; Rossi, Antonio; Hennet, Thierry; Brand-Arzamendi, Koroboshka; Rozmus, Jacob; Harshman, Keith; Stevenson, Brian J; Girardi, Enrico; Superti-Furga, Giulio; Dewan, Tammie; Collingridge, Alissa; Halparin, Jessie; Ross, Colin J; Van Allen, Margot I;et al (2016). NANS-mediated synthesis of sialic acid is required for brain and skeletal development. Nature Genetics, 48 (7) insights into the molecular basis of neurocognitive impairment allows for the development and 89 application of targeted therapeutic strategies 5 . Although less frequent than IDD, genetic disorders 90 affecting skeletal development and growth (commonly called the "skeletal dysplasias") are a 91 group of over 500 distinct disorders 6 . Studying their molecular basis has provided precious 92 insights into the many factors necessary for skeletal development, ranging from minerals and 93 structural molecules to enzymes, to signaling molecules and transcription factors 6,7 . We report 94here a genetic disorder presenting with a combination of severe IDD with skeletal dysplasia and 95 short stature. Our data show that its pathogenic basis is an inborn error of metabolism that 96 affects the endogenous synthesis of N-acetyl neuraminic acid (NeuNAc; sialic acid). Exploration 97 of the biochemical and molecular features of this disorder provides new information on the role 98 of sialic acid in the development of brain and bone. 99 100 RESULTS 101 Clinical and radiographic phenotype of N...

Sialic acid sugars on the surface of cancer cells have emerged as potent immune modulators that contribute to the immunosuppressive microenvironment and tumor immune evasion. However, the mechanisms by which these sugars modulate antitumor immunity as well as therapeutic strategies directed against them are limited. Here we report that intratumoral injections with a sialic acid mimetic Ac3FNeu5Ac block tumor sialic acid expression and suppress tumor growth in multiple tumor models. Sialic acid blockade had a major impact on the immune cell composition of the tumor, enhancing tumor-infiltrating natural killer cell and CD8 T-cell numbers while reducing regulatory T-cell and myeloid regulatory cell numbers. Sialic acid blockade enhanced cytotoxic CD8 T-cell-mediated killing of tumor cells in part by facilitating antigen-specific T-cell-tumor cell clustering. Sialic acid blockade also synergized with adoptive transfer of tumor-specific CD8 T cells and enhanced CpG immune adjuvant therapy by increasing dendritic cell activation and subsequent CD8 T-cell responses. Collectively, these data emphasize the crucial role of sialic acids in tumor immune evasion and provide proof of concept that sialic acid blockade creates an immune-permissive tumor microenvironment for CD8 T-cell-mediated tumor immunity, either as single treatment or in combination with other immune-based intervention strategies. Sialic acid sugars function as important modulators of the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment that limit potent antitumor immunity. http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/canres/78/13/3574/F1.large.jpg .

Although metal free cycloadditions of cyclooctynes and azides to give stable 1,2,3-triazoles have found wide utility in chemical biology and material sciences, there is an urgent need for faster and more versatile bioorthogonal reactions. We have found that nitrile oxides and diazocarbonyl derivatives undergo facile 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions with cyclooctynes. Cycloadditions with diazocarbonyl derivatives exhibited similar kinetics compared to azides whereas the reaction rates of cycloadditions with nitrile oxides were much faster. Nitrile oxides could conveniently be prepared by direct oxidation of the corresponding oximes with BAIB and these conditions made it possible to perform oxime formation, oxidation and cycloaddition as a one-pot procedure. The methodology was employed to functionalize the anomeric center of carbohydrates with various tags. Furthermore, oximes and azides provide an orthogonal pair of functional groups for sequential metal free click reactions and this feature makes it possible to multi-functionalize biomolecules and materials by a simple synthetic procedure that does not require toxic metal catalysts.

The development of a biotechnological platform for the removal of waste products (e.g. uremic toxins), often bound to proteins in plasma, is a prerequisite to improve current treatment modalities for patients suffering from end stage renal disease (ESRD). Here, we present a newly designed bioengineered renal tubule capable of active uremic toxin secretion through the concerted action of essential renal transporters, viz. organic anion transporter-1 (OAT1), breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) and multidrug resistance protein-4 (MRP4). Three-dimensional cell monolayer formation of human conditionally immortalized proximal tubule epithelial cells (ciPTEC) on biofunctionalized hollow fibers with maintained barrier function was demonstrated. Using a tailor made flow system, the secretory clearance of human serum albumin-bound uremic toxins, indoxyl sulfate and kynurenic acid, as well as albumin reabsorption across the renal tubule was confirmed. These functional bioengineered renal tubules are promising entities in renal replacement therapies and regenerative medicine, as well as in drug development programs.

Cancer cells decorate their surface with a dense layer of sialylated glycans by upregulating the expression of sialyltransferases and other glycogenes. Although sialic acids play a vital role in many biologic processes, hypersialylation in particular has been shown to contribute to cancer cell progression and metastasis. Accordingly, selective strategies to interfere with sialic acid synthesis might offer a powerful approach in cancer therapy. In the present study, we assessed the potential of a recently developed fluorinated sialic acid analogue (P-3F ax -Neu5Ac) to block the synthesis of sialoglycans in murine melanoma cells and the consequences on cell adhesion, migration, and in vivo growth. The results showed that P-3F ax -Neu5Ac readily caused depletion of a2,3-/a2,6-linked sialic acids in B16F10 cells for several days. Long-term inhibition of sialylation for 28 days was feasible without affecting cell viability or proliferation. Moreover, P-3F ax -Neu5Ac proved to be a highly potent inhibitor of sialylation even at high concentrations of competing sialyltransferase substrates. P-3F ax -Neu5Ac-treated cancer cells exhibited impaired binding to poly-L-lysine, type I collagen, and fibronectin and diminished migratory capacity. Finally, blocking sialylation of B16F10 tumor cells with this novel sialic acid analogue reduced their growth in vivo. These results indicate that P-3F ax -Neu5Ac is a powerful glycomimetic capable of inhibiting aberrant sialylation that can potentially be used for anticancer therapy. Mol Cancer Ther; 12(10); 1935-46. Ó2013 AACR.

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Controlling the chemical glycosylation reaction remains the major challenge in the synthesis of oligosaccharides. Though 1,2-trans glycosidic linkages can be installed using neighboring group participation, the construction of 1,2-cis linkages is difficult and has no general solution. Long-range participation (LRP) by distal acyl groups may steer the stereoselectivity, but contradictory results have been reported on the role and strength of this stereoelectronic effect. It has been exceedingly difficult to study the bridging dioxolenium ion intermediates because of their high reactivity and fleeting nature. Here we report an integrated approach, using infrared ion spectroscopy, DFT computations, and a systematic series of glycosylation reactions to probe these ions in detail. Our study reveals how distal acyl groups can play a decisive role in shaping the stereochemical outcome of a glycosylation reaction, and opens new avenues to exploit these species in the assembly of oligosaccharides and glycoconjugates to fuel biological research.