Automated Chemoenzymatic Modular Synthesis of Human Milk Oligosaccharides on a Digital Microfluidic Platform

Overview

Journal RSC Adv

Publisher Royal Society of Chemistry

Specialty Chemistry

Date 2024 May 30

PMID 38813121

Authors

Yiran Wu

Yunze Sun

Caixia Pei

Xinlv Peng

Xianming Liu

Eika W Qian

Yuguang Du

Jian-Jun Li

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Glycans, along with proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids, constitute the four fundamental classes of biomacromolecules found in living organisms. Generally, glycans are attached to proteins or lipids to form glycoconjugates that perform critical roles in various biological processes. Automatic synthesis of glycans is essential for investigation into structure-function relationships of glycans. In this study, we presented a method that integrated magnetic bead-based manipulation and modular chemoenzymatic synthesis of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), on a DMF (Digital Microfluidics) platform. On the DMF platform, enzymatic modular reactions were conducted in solution, and purification of products or intermediates was achieved by using DEAE magnetic beads, circumventing the intricate steps required for traditional solid-phase synthesis. With this approach, we have successfully synthesized eleven HMOs with highest yields of up to >90% on the DMF platform. This study would not only lay the foundation for OPME synthesis of glycans on the DMF platform, but also set the stage for developing automated enzymatic glycan synthesizers based on the DMF platform.

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