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Our research program is focused on elucidating the role of complex oligosaccharides involved in a host of biological processes of medical relevance by employing molecular tools created by synthetic chemistry. We are particularly interested in understanding the recognition events responsible for the interactions of oligosaccharides with proteins that control cell growth, cell differentiation, cell-cell interactions, bacterial attachment to target cells and signaling events involving the extracellular matrix. To address these questions we are developing and applying techniques traditionally associated with the areas of organic synthesis, solid-phase chemistry, combinatorial chemistry, engineering and automation, analytical chemistry, biochemistry, enzymology, molecular biology, neurobiology, immunology and drug design.
The core interests our research program currently address the following areas:
Automated oligosaccharide synthesis
- Rapid access to monosaccharide by de-novo synthesis
- New protecting groups
- New Glycosylating Agents
- New linkers for solid phase carbohydrate synthesis
- Assembly of complex structures (in particular N-Glycans, O-Glycans)
- Optimization of steps followingthe assembly, like deprotection, modification and conjugation
Group members
Total Synthesis of Biologically Important Oligosaccharides
- Tumor-associated antigens
- HIV-related oligosaccharides
- Bacterial cell-surface antigens
- N-linked glycoproteins
Group members
Chemical Synthesis and Biochemistry of Proteoglycans
- Modular synthesis of heparin/heparan sulfates
- Creation of heparin microarray
- Optimization of the building blocks synthesis
- Study of the SAR (structure-activity relationship) and the interactions between Proteoglycans and proteins
- Automated synthesis of heparin fragments
Group members
Total Synthesis and Biological Activity of Glycosylphosphatidylinositols (GPIs)
- Total syntheses of GPIs
- Development of a synthetic GPI malarial vaccine
- Elucidation of the biosynthesis of GPI
- Immunological response to synthetic GPIs
Group members
Development of Cabohydrate-based Vaccines
- A fully synthetic malaria vaccine
- Leishmania vaccine
- Synthetic HIV vaccine
- Synthetic TB vaccine
Group members
Microreactors for Organic Synthesis
- (Automated) Synthesis in continuous flow Microreactors
- Photochemistry in Microflow reactors
- Catalysis in Microreactors
Group members
Carbohydrate Microarrays
Marie-Lyn Hecht, Tim Horlacher
De novo synthesis
Group members
Nanoparticules and Colloidal Polymers
- Quantum dots
- Supramolecular dendrimers
- Emulsion polymerization of nanoparticules
Group members
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