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Updated: Mar 4, 2026
Metabolic Glycoengineering of Sialic Acid Using N-acyl-modified Mannosamines
Published on: November 25, 2017
Targeted metabolic glycoengineering using multivalent mannosyl metal-organic frameworks (MOFs)
Pei-Hong Tong1, Chen Guo1,2, Xi-Le Hu1
1Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, Frontiers Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Rd., Shanghai 200237, China. xphe@ecust.edu.cn.
Researchers developed a novel glycan labeling tool using mannosyl ligand-modified metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for targeted cell delivery of unnatural sugars. This method enables specific metabolic glycoengineering in complex biological systems.
Area of Science:
- Bioconjugation Chemistry
- Metabolic Glycoengineering
- Nanomaterials in Biology
Background:
- Cell-type selective metabolic labeling of glycans is challenging in complex biological settings.
- Targeted delivery of unnatural sugars is crucial for specific glycan modification.
- Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) offer potential for controlled drug/molecule delivery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel tool for cell-type selective metabolic glycan labeling.
- To achieve targeted delivery of unnatural sugars using receptor-mediated endocytosis.
- To enable specific glycoengineering of target cells in mixed populations.
Main Methods:
- Encapsulation of azido sugar (ManNAz) into mannosyl ligand-modified MOF (MIL-101-Man).
- Utilizing mannose receptor (MR) targeting for specific cell uptake.
- Employing fluorescence-based biorthogonal cell labeling for detection.
- Co-culture assays to demonstrate cell-type specificity.
Main Results:
- MIL-101-Man demonstrated receptor-dependent uptake via MRs.
- Released ManNAz was metabolically incorporated into cellular glycans.
- Targeted glycoengineering of MR-overexpressing cells was achieved in co-culture settings.
- High specificity was observed over cells with minimal MR expression.
Conclusions:
- The developed MOF-based tool enables targeted delivery of unnatural sugars for metabolic glycoengineering.
- This approach facilitates cell-type selective glycan modification in complex biological environments.
- The study provides an effective strategy for receptor-targeted glycoengineering of specific cell populations.
