Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 24, 2026
14:37
High-throughput Synthesis of Carbohydrates and Functionalization of Polyanhydride Nanoparticles
Published on: July 6, 2012
11.9K
Glycan Phosphorylases in Multi-Enzyme Synthetic Processes.
Giulia Pergolizzi1, Sakonwan Kuhaudomlarp1, Eeshan Kalita1
1Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH. United Kingdom.
Protein and Peptide Letters
|August 12, 2017
Summary
Glycan phosphorylases synthesize glycosidic bonds but have limited utility. Coupling them with other enzymes shifts the reaction equilibrium, enabling useful synthetic processes.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Enzymology
- Synthetic Biology
Background:
- Glycoside phosphorylases catalyze reversible glycosidic bond synthesis.
- Inorganic phosphate release accompanies glycosylation.
- Reaction equilibrium often limits synthetic applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To survey recent advancements in combining glycan phosphorylases with other enzymes.
- To explore strategies for overcoming equilibrium limitations in enzymatic synthesis.
- To highlight synthetically useful processes enabled by enzyme coupling.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of combined enzymatic approaches.
- Analysis of reaction equilibrium shifts through coupled enzymes.
- Case studies of successful synthetic applications.
Main Results:
- Coupling glycan phosphorylases with specific secondary enzymes shifts reaction equilibrium favorably.
- This approach enhances the synthetic utility of glycosidic bond formation.
- Various synthetically valuable compounds can be produced.
Conclusions:
- Combined enzymatic systems involving glycan phosphorylases offer powerful tools for chemical synthesis.
- Strategic enzyme coupling overcomes equilibrium limitations inherent in phosphorylase activity.
- This methodology expands the scope of biocatalysis for complex carbohydrate synthesis.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Biosynthesis of Polysaccharides
747
Polysaccharides such as glycogen and starch are synthesized from nucleoside diphosphate sugars, primarily uridine diphosphate glucose (UDPG) and adenosine diphosphate glucose (ADPG). These activated glucose donors act as key intermediates in carbohydrate metabolism and biosynthesis. UDPG primarily involves glycogen synthesis in animals and many bacteria, while ADPG plays a fundamental role in starch synthesis in plants and certain bacteria.UDPG is formed when glucose-1-phosphate reacts with...
747
01:24Oligosaccharide Assembly
3.7K
Protein glycosylation starts in the ER lumen and continues in the Golgi apparatus. Glycosyltransferases catalyze the addition of sugar molecules or glycosylation of proteins. Usually, these enzymes add sugars to the hydroxyl groups of selected serine or threonine residues to form O-linked glycans or the amino groups of asparagine residues to form N-linked glycans. Different positions on the same polypeptide chain can contain differently linked glycans.
Multiple sugar molecules that may or may...
Multiple sugar molecules that may or may...
3.7K
01:28Peptidoglycan Synthesis
3.2K
Structure of PeptidoglycanPeptidoglycan is a vital structural component of the bacterial cell wall, providing mechanical strength and shape to the cell. It consists of repeating units of two sugars—N-acetylglucosamine (NAG) and N-acetylmuramic acid (NAM)—linked by β-1,4 glycosidic bonds. These sugar chains are cross-linked by short peptide chains, forming a mesh-like polymer that surrounds the bacterial plasma membrane.Cytoplasmic Phase – Precursor SynthesisPeptidoglycan...
3.2K
01:28ATP and Macromolecule Synthesis
7.0K
Biological macromolecules are organic compounds, predominantly composed of carbon atoms. The carbon atoms are covalently bonded with hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and other minor elements. There are four major biological macromolecule classes: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
Most macromolecules are composed of single subunits, or building blocks, called monomers. The monomers combine with each other using covalent bonds to form larger molecules known as polymers.
Conversion of...
Most macromolecules are composed of single subunits, or building blocks, called monomers. The monomers combine with each other using covalent bonds to form larger molecules known as polymers.
Conversion of...
7.0K
01:21Glycolysis: Preparatory Phase
17.4K
In cellular metabolism (the complete breakdown of glucose to extract energy), glycolysis is the first step. Glycolysis takes place in the cytoplasm of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Glucose enters heterotrophic cells in two ways. One method is through secondary active transport, where the transport takes place against the glucose concentration gradient. The other mechanism uses a group of integral proteins called GLUT proteins, also known as glucose transporter proteins. These...
17.4K
01:15Hydrolysis
123.5K
Overview
Hydrolysis is a chemical reaction in which the addition of water breaks down a polymer into its simpler monomer units. For example, peptides break into amino acids, carbohydrates into simple sugars, and DNA into nucleotides. Enzymes often facilitate these processes.
Hydrolysis Reverses Dehydration Synthesis
Complex carbohydrates can be broken down by breaking the bonds between individual sugar units. The reaction breaks a glycosidic bond as water is added to the compound. The...
Hydrolysis is a chemical reaction in which the addition of water breaks down a polymer into its simpler monomer units. For example, peptides break into amino acids, carbohydrates into simple sugars, and DNA into nucleotides. Enzymes often facilitate these processes.
Hydrolysis Reverses Dehydration Synthesis
Complex carbohydrates can be broken down by breaking the bonds between individual sugar units. The reaction breaks a glycosidic bond as water is added to the compound. The...
123.5K