[1] Neoglycoproteins from synthetic glycopeptides

Saccharide side chains of glycoproteins influence the physicochemical properties of the biomacromolecules and their stability against proteolytic degradation. Saccharide side chains of glycoproteins also play important roles as ligands in biological recognition and in the organized distribution of these compounds within multicellular organisms. Carbohydrate-lectin interactions are important, for example, in viral infections and for the recruitment and invasion of leukocytes into injured tissues. Although in a number of processes carbohydrates were revealed to be decisive recognition labels, in other biological selections peptide sequences proved to be the recognized areas. For glycoproteins it seems inappropriate to separate rigorously the role of peptides and carbohydrates because both parts carry a number of polar functionalities predestinated for interacting with one another. Therefore, it is highly presumable that both parts, carbohydrates and peptide sequences, can contribute to a complex recognition label or epitope of a natural glycoprotein.