Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates decorate the surface of all cells. This glycocalyx, regulates a multitude of biological mechanisms like cell-cell communication. We use automated glycan assembly (AGA) to prepare well-defined carbohydrates. These synthetic structures can be printed on surfaces, conjugated to other (nano)materials, or assembled into supramolecular structures to mimic biological interfaces. Carbohydrates can be integrated into (sequence-defined) functional polymers to decorate interfaces and mediate interactions with proteins and cells.
Dr. Matthias Hartlieb
Dr. Martina Delbianco
Prof. Dr. Helmut Schlaad
Publications
Fittolani, G., Vargová, D., Seeberger, P. H., Ogawa, Y. & Delbianco, M. Bottom-Up Approach to Understand ChiralityTransfer across Scales in Cellulose Assemblies. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2022, 144, 12469-12475. https://doi.org:10.1021/jacs.2c04522
Lehnen, A.-C., Bapolisi, A. M., Reifarth, M., Bekir, M., Hartlieb, M. Xanthate-supported photo-iniferter (XPI)-RAFT polymerization: Facile and rapid access to complex macromolecular architectures. Chem. Sci., 2023, 14, 593-603. https://doi.org/10.1039/D2SC05197D
Lüdecke, N., Bekir, M., Eickelmann, S., Hartlieb, M., Schlaad, H. Toward Protein-Repellent Surface Coatings fromCatechol-containing Cationic Poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 2023, 15, 19582-19592, https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.2c22518
Collaborative research centers / Network
Patents / Awards
ERC starting grant, GLYCOFOLD – 101075357 (1,499,956 €) | Martina Delbianco
DFG Emmy Noether grant, Potsdam (1,645,000 €) | Matthias Hartlieb
BMBF NanoMatFutur – CarboMat 13XP5114 (1,595,600 €) | Martina Delbianco
Carbohydrates / Renewables
Carbohydrates are ubiquitously present in all organisms and due to their high structural and functional diversity, they have various applications. Recombinant enzymes can be used to synthesize tailor-made polysaccharides such as α-glucans in high yields. Furthermore, hydrolytic enzymes were applied to selectively degrade certain structural elements.
Prof. Dr. Daniel Wefers
Publications
Münkel, F., Bechtner, J., Eckel, V., Fischer, A., Herbi, F., Jakob, F., Wefers, D. Detailed structural characterization of glucans produced by glucansucrases from Leuconostoc citreum TMW 2.1194. J. Agric. Food Chem. 2019, 67, 6856-6866.
Münkel, F., Fischer, A., Wefers, D. Structural characterization of mixed-linkage α-glucans produced by mutants of Lactobacillus reuteri TMW 1.106 dextransucrase. Carbohydr. Polym. 2020, 231, 115697.
Functionalization of carbohydrates (for cell therapy)
Glycosylation can be used to modify their functionality or metabolism of bioactive molecules. Conjugation with different sugar moieties can be achieved by chemical synthesis, however, enzymes can also be used to functionalize different compounds by mono-, di-, and oligomeric carbohydrate moieties.
Prof. Dr. Daniel Wefers
Publications
Klingel, T., Hadamjetz, M., Fischer, A., Wefers, D. Glucosylation of flavonoids and flavonoid glycosides by mutant dextransucrase from Lactobacillus reuteri TMW 1.106. Carbohydr. Res. 2019, 483, 107741.
Klingel, T., Bindereif, B., Hadamjetz, M., Fischer, A., van der Schaaf, U.S., Wefers, D. Enzymatic synthesis and characterization of mono-, oligo-, and polyglucosylated conjugates of caffeic acid and gallic acid. J. Agric. Food Chem. 2019, 67, 13108-13118.