Towards a simple and robust platform for synthesizing oligosaccharides

What is it about?

Oligosaccharides are polymers made up of a few simple sugar molecules. They play many important roles in the food industry. Some of these roles have been identified and understood only recently. Thus, we need versatile platforms to synthesize these sugars. In this study, the authors developed a new method for producing these sugars. In their method, they used compounds containing gold and silver as catalysts. Notably, the entire synthesis process occurred in the solid phase rather than in a solution phase. Unlike previous methods, the proposed method was fast, efficient, and simple. The reactions were completed in less than 30 minutes at room temperature and showed high yields. Moreover, the prepared sugars could be linked to other biological molecules. This makes them useful tools for research in biology.

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Photo by Hans Reniers on Unsplash

Photo by Hans Reniers on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Oligosaccharides appear in all forms of life and are important in medicine and biotech. But, their synthesis is difficult due to the large number of steps necessary to purify them. In addition, the standard methods yield unwanted side products. The simple and robust method presented in this study solves these problems. Further, it can be used to produce both linear and branched sugars depending on the requirement. With any luck, the proposed method can become a valuable tool for advancing our knowledge of these sugars. KEY TAKEAWAY: Thanks to a new solid phase synthesis method, oligosaccharides can now be synthesized more efficiently and quickly. This will be key in the study of diseases and development of new drugs.