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Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Rapid Glyco-Qualitative Assessment of Recombinant Proteins Using a Fully Automated System
Published on: June 28, 2024
Trivalent, Gal/GalNAc-containing ligands designed for the asialoglycoprotein receptor
Oleg Khorev1, Daniela Stokmaier, Oliver Schwardt
1Institute of Molecular Pharmacy, Pharmacenter-University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland.
Abstract:
A series of novel, fluorescent ligands designed to bind with high affinity and specificity to the asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGP-R) has been synthesized and tested on human liver cells. The compounds bear three non-reducing, beta-linked Gal or GalNAc moieties linked to flexible spacers for an optimal spatial interaction with the binding site of the ASGP-R. The final constructs were selectively endocytosed by HepG2 cells derived from parenchymal liver cells-the major human liver cell type-in a process that was visualized with the aid of fluorescence microscopy. Furthermore, the internalization was analyzed with flow cytometry, which showed the process to be receptor-mediated and selective. The compounds described in this work could serve as valuable tools for studying hepatic endocytosis, and are suited as carriers for site-specific drug delivery to the liver.
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