Add BrightSurf on Google Email

New method to synthesize carbohydrates could pave the way to biomedical advances

Researchers have discovered a way to selectively create links between sugar molecules, enabling precise control over the stereochemistry of oligosaccharides. This breakthrough could open up new avenues of biomedical research into these versatile molecules, providing access to previously difficult-to-construct oligosaccharides.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalNature Synthesis·DateAug 12, 2025

Medicines with sugar chains

Researchers used native top-down mass spectroscopy to study the interplay between glycans and oligomerization in various therapeutic hormones and cytokines. They found that glycans significantly stabilize some proteins, such as tumor necrosis factor-α, while others, like interferon-β, are independent of glycosylation status.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 15, 2022