Microarray Analysis of Oligosaccharide‐Mediated Multivalent Carbohydrate–Protein Interactions and Their Heterogeneity

Carbohydrate–protein interactions (CPIs) are involved in a wide range of biological phenomena. Hence, the characterization and presentation of carbohydrate epitopes that closely mimic the natural environment is one of the long‐term goals of glycosciences. Inspired by the multivalency, heterogeneity and nature of carbohydrate ligand‐mediated interactions, we constructed a combinatorial library of mannose and galactose homo‐ and hetero‐glycodendrons to study CPIs. Microarray analysis of these glycodendrons with a wide range of biologically important plant and animal lectins revealed that oligosaccharide structures and heterogeneity interact with each other to alter binding preferences. Mannose and galactose‐based homo‐ and hetero‐glycodendrons were synthesized to investigate the multivalency, heterogeneity and nature of carbohydrate ligand‐mediated carbohydrate–protein interactions by using a microarray platform. The designed glycodendrons were found clearly to differentiate CPIs of closely related lectins.