Novel Methods For Chemical Synthesis Of Lactosyl Sphingosines, Glucosylsphingosines, Galactosylsphingosines, And 3-O-Sulfogalactosylsphingosines

Abstract

Researchers at the University of California, Davis, have developed new synthesis methods for the rapid and highly pure production of glycosphingolipids. The prototyped process can produce pure glycosphingolipids that can be used within basic disease research and drug and diagnostic development.

Full Description

Glycosphingolipids are ubiquitous membrane components that are subdivided into gangliosides and sulfatides. They are involved with events occurring on the cell surface, including the binding of viruses, bacterial toxins, adhesion molecules, and antibodies to the plasma membrane. As such, they are implicated in the pathogenesis of various diseases, including glycosphingolipidoses, autoimmune diseases, secretory diarrhea, cancer, and others. However, synthesizing glycosphingolipids for research, drug, and diagnostic purposes is complicated and expensive.

Researchers at the University of California, Davis, have developed two new methods for the rapid and straightforward synthesis of glycosphingolipids. The methods produce partially protected sphingosines, which are used as acceptors for chemical glycosylation to synthesize simple glycosylsphingosines. Thus far, the inventors have prototyped the methods and shown the ability to produce highly pure glycosphingolipids within the laboratory.

Applications

• Production of glycosphingolipids for basic disease research and drug and diagnostic development.

Features/Benefits

• A novel synthesis scheme that supports the production of highly complex glycosphingosines and glycosphingolipids. 
• Highly pure, shorter synthesis duration/steps, and less costly. 
• The synthesis method supports large-scale production.

Patent Status

Patent Pending