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N-glycosylation of eukaryotic proteins is widespread and vital to survival. The pentasaccharide unit -Man3GlcNAc2- lies at the protein-junction core of all oligosaccharides attached to asparagine side chains during this process. Although its absolute conservation implies an indispensable role, associated perhaps with its structure, its unbiased conformation and the potential modulating role of solvation are unknown; both have now been explored through a combination of synthesis, laser spectroscopy, and computation. The proximal -GlcNAc-GlcNAc- unit acts as a rigid rod, while the central, and unusual, -Man-β-1,4-GlcNAc- linkage is more flexible and is modulated by the distal Man-α-1,3- and Man-α-1,6- branching units. Solvation stiffens the 'rod' but leaves the distal residues flexible, through a β-Man pivot, ensuring anchored projection from the protein shell while allowing flexible interaction of the distal portion of N-glycosylation with bulk water and biomolecular assemblies.

The influence of an acetamido group in directing the preferred choice of hydration sites in glucosamine and a consequent extension of the working rules governing regioselective hydration and conformational choice, have been revealed through comparisons between the conformations and structures of "free" and multiply hydrated phenyl N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosamine (betapGlcNAc) and phenyl beta-D-glucopyranoside (betapGlc), isolated in the gas phase at low temperatures. The structures have been assigned through infrared ion depletion spectroscopy conducted in a supersonic jet expansion, coupled with computational methods. The acetamido motif provides a hydration focus that overwhelms the directing role of the hydroxymethyl group; in multiply hydrated betapGlcNAc the water molecules are all located around the acetamido motif, on the "axial" faces of the pyranose ring rather than around its edge, despite the equatorial disposition of all the hydrophilic groups in the ring. The striking and unprecedented role of the C-2 acetamido group in controlling hydration structures may, in part, explain the differing and widespread roles of GlcNAc, and perhaps GalNAc, in nature.

A combination of vibrational spectroscopy conducted under molecular beam conditions and quantum chemical calculation has established the intrinsic three-dimensional structures of the cellulose disaccharide and, focusing on the critical beta1,4-linkage at the nonreducing end of the growing cellulose polymer, its C-4' epimer. Left to their own devices they both adopt a cis (anti-phi/syn-psi) glycosidic configuration, supported in the epimer by strong, cooperative inter-ring hydrogen bonding. In the cellulose disaccharide, however, where the OH-4'(Glc) group is equatorial, the cooperativity is reduced and the corresponding inter-ring hydrogen bonding is relatively weak. The cis conformational preference is still retained in their singly hydrated complexes. In the cellulose disaccharide insertion of the water molecule at the favored binding site between OH-4' and the neighboring hydroxyl group OH-6' promotes a structural reorganization to create a configuration that parallels that of its unhydrated epimer and greatly strengthens the inter-ring hydrogen bonding. In the C-4' epimer, the axial orientation of OH-4' blocks this binding site and the bound water molecule simply adds on at the end of the (OH-O)(n) chain, which has a negligible effect on the (already strong) inter-ring bonding. The implications of these results are discussed with respect to the structure and insolubility of native cellulose polymers.

The possibility of secondary structure acting as a primary determinant in nature's choice of the consensus sequon, NXS/T in all N-linked glycoproteins, has been addressed by determining the intrinsic secondary structures of the capped oligopeptide, Ac-NGS-NHBn, and two "mutants", Ac-QGS-NHBn and Ac-NPS-NHBn, by use of infrared laser ion dip spectroscopy in the gas phase coupled with ab initio and density functional theory calculation. Their global minimum energy conformations, exclusively or preferentially populated in all three peptides, display marked differences. NGS adopts an open, S-shaped backbone conformation rather than the C(10) "Asx" turn structure that all previous measurements have identified in solution; the difference can be related to the high dipole moment of the "Asx" conformation and structural selection in a polar environment. QGS adopts a similar but more rigid backbone structure, supported by markedly stronger hydrogen bonds. NPS adopts an Asx turn coupled with a C(10) beta-turn backbone conformation, a structure also adopted in a crystal environment. These and other more subtle structural differences, particularly those involving interactions with the carboxamide side chain, provide strong evidence for the operation of structural constraints, and a potential insight into the unique reactivity of the asparagine side chain toward enzymatic glycosylation.

The intrinsic conformational preferences and structures of the branched trimannoside, alpha-phenyl 3,6-di-O-(alpha-D-mannopyranosyl)-alpha-D-mannopyranoside (which contains the same carbohydrates found in a key subunit of the core pentasaccharide in N-glycans) and its singly hydrated complex, have been investigated in the gas phase isolated at low temperature in a molecular beam expansion. Conformational assignments of their infrared ion dip spectra, based on comparisons between experiment and ONIOM (B3LYP/6-31+G(d):HF/6-31G(d)) and single-point MP2 calculations have identified their preferred structures and relative energies. The unhydrated trimannoside populates a unique structure supported by two strong, central hydrogen bonds linking the central mannose unit (CM), and its two branches (3M and 6M) closely together, through a cooperative hydrogen-bonding network: OH4(CM)-->OH6(3M)-->OH6(6M). A closely bound structure is also retained in the singly hydrated oligosaccharide, with the water molecule bridging across the 3M and 6M branches to provide additional bonding. This structure contrasts sharply with the more open, entropically favored trimannoside structure determined in aqueous solution at 298 K. In principle this structure can be accessed from the isolated trimannoside structure by a simple conformational change, a twist about the alpha(1,3) glycosidic linkage, increasing the dihedral angle psi[C1(3M)-O3(3M)-C3(CM)-C2(CM)] from approximately 74 degrees to approximately 146 degrees to enable accommodation of a water molecule at the centrally bound site occupied by the hydroxymethyl group on the 3M ring and mediation of the water-linked hydrogen-bonded network: OH4(CM) -->OH(W)-->OH6(6M). The creation of a "water pocket" motif localized at the bisecting axis of the trimannoside is strikingly similar to the structure of more complex N-glycans in water, suggesting perhaps a general role for the "bisecting" OH4 group in the central (CM) mannose unit.

A direct thionation procedure allows conversion of allylic alcohols into the corresponding thiols, the products of which are immediately compatible with one-pot site-selective selenenyl sulfide mediated protein conjugation.

Factors governing hydration, regioselectivity and conformational choice in hydrated carbohydrates have been examined by determining and reviewing the structures of a systematically varied set of singly and multiply hydrated monosaccharide complexes in the gas phase. This has been achieved through a combination of experiments, including infrared ion-depletion spectroscopy conducted in a supersonic jet expansion, and computation through molecular mechanics, density functional theory (DFT) and ab initio calculations. New spectroscopic and/or computational results obtained for the singly hydrated complexes of phenyl beta-D-mannopyranoside (beta-D-PhMan), methyl alpha-D-gluco- and alpha-D-galactopyranoside (alpha-D-MeGlc and alpha-D-MeGal), when coupled with those reported earlier for the singly hydrated complexes of alpha-D-PhMan, beta-D-PhGlc and beta-D-PhGal, have created a comprehensive data set, which reveals a systematic pattern of conformational preference and binding site selectivity, driven by the provision of optimal, co-operative hydrogen-bonded networks in the hydrated sugars. Their control of conformational choice and structure has been further revealed through spectroscopic and/or computational investigations of a series of multiply hydrated complexes; they include beta-D-PhMan.(H2O)2,3, which has an exocyclic hydroxymethyl group, and the doubly hydrated complex of phenyl alpha-L-fucopyranoside, alpha-L-PhFuc.(H2O)2, which does not. Despite the very large number of potential structures and binding sites, the choice is highly selective with binding invariably "focussed" around the hydroxymethyl group (when present). In beta-D-PhMan.(H2O)2,3, the bound water molecules are located exclusively on its polar face and their orientation is dictated by the (perturbed) conformation of the carbohydrate to which they are attached. The possible operation of similar rules governing the structures of hydrogen-bonded protein-carbohydrate complexes is proposed.

The physical basis of carbohydrate molecular recognition at aromatic protein binding sites is explored by creating molecular complexes between a series of selected monosaccharides and toluene (as a truncated model for phenylalanine). They are formed at low temperatures under molecular beam conditions, and detected and characterized through mass-selected, infrared ion depletion spectroscopy-a strategy which exploits the extraordinary sensitivity of their vibrational signatures to the local hydrogen-bonded environment of their OH groups. The trial set of carbohydrates, alpha- and beta-anomers of glucose, galactose and fucose, reflects ligand fragments in naturally occurring protein-carbohydrate complexes and also allows an investigation of the effect of systematic structural changes, including the shape and extent of 'apolar' patches on the pyranose ring, removal of the OH on the exocyclic hydroxymethyl group, and removal of the aglycon. Bound complexes invariably form, establishing the general existence of intrinsic intermolecular potential minima. In most of the cases explored, comparison between recorded and computed vibrational spectra of the bound and free carbohydrates in the absence of solvent water molecules reveal that dispersion forces involving CH-pi interactions, which promote little if any distortion of the bound carbohydrate, predominate although complexes bound through specific OH-pi hydrogen-bonded interactions have also been identified. Since the complexes form at low temperatures in the absence of water, entropic contributions associated with the reorganization of surrounding water molecules, the essence of the proposed 'hydrophobic interaction', cannot contribute and other modes of binding drive the recognition of sugars by aromatic residues. Excitingly, some of the proposed structures mirror those found in naturally occurring protein-carbohydrate binding sites.

In higher organisms, the functions of many proteins are modulated by post-translational modifications (PTMs). Glycosylation is by far the most diverse of the PTM processes. Natural protein production methods typically produce PTM or glycoform mixtures within which function is difficult to dissect or control. Chemical tagging methods allow the precise attachment of multiple glycosylation modifications to bacterially expressed (bare) protein scaffolds, allowing reconstitution of functionally effective mimics of glycoproteins in higher organisms. In this way combining chemical control of PTM with readily available protein scaffolds provides a systematic platform for creating probes of protein-PTM interactions. This protocol describes the modification of Cys residues in proteins using glycomethanethiosulfonates and glycoselenenylsulfides and the modification of azidohomoalanine residues, introduced by Met replacement using auxotrophic Met(-) Escherichia coli strains, with glycoalkynes and the combination of these techniques for the creation of dual-tagged proteins. Each glycosylation procedure outlined in this protocol can be achieved in half a day.

Oxazoline mono-, di-, tri- and hexasaccharides, corresponding to the core components of N-linked glycoprotein high mannose glycans, are synthesised as potential glycosyl donors for endohexosaminidase catalysed glycosylation of glycopeptides and glycoprotein remodelling. The crucial beta-D-Manp-(1-->4)-D-GlcpNAc linkage is synthesised via epimerisation of gluco disaccharide substrates by sequential triflation and nucleophilic substitution. Oxazolines are formed directly from the anomeric OPMP protected N-acetyl glucosamine derivatives. Efficient endohexosaminidase catalysed glycosylation of a synthetic beta-D-GlcpNAcAsn glycosyl amino acid is demonstrated with the trisaccharide oxazoline donor.

The intrinsic conformer specific vibrational spectra of two important subunits of the core pentasaccharide of N-linked glycans, the alpha(1,3) and alpha(1,6) dimannosides, have been recorded in the gas phase. Coupling these measurements with a computational exploration of their conformational landscapes has enabled their conformational assignment and has identified characteristic vibrational signatures associated with particular conformational families-including those that do or do not display inter-ring hydrogen bonding across the glycosidic linkage. In addition, the IR spectra of the monosaccharide moieties provide benchmarks, through which the conformational assignments can be refined. This introduces a general concept of modularity and secondary structure in oligosaccharides--essential for the success of similar studies on larger oligosaccharides in the future.

Carbohydrates, either bound to proteins or in lipids, play essential roles as communication molecules in many intercellular and intracellular processes. In particular, carbohydrates are important mediators of cell-cell recognition events and have been implicated in related processes such as cell signaling regulation, cellular differentiation and immune response. This diverse utility has long suggested the power of carbohydrates in therapeutic approaches. This Concepts article highlights the recent potential uses of glycoconjugates as therapeutics, with particular reference to glycopeptides, glycoproteins, glycodendrimers, and glycoarrays.

The conformation and structure of phenyl-alpha-l-fucopyranoside (alpha-PhFuc), phenyl-beta-L-fucopyranoside (beta-PhFuc) and their singly hydrated complexes (alpha,beta-PhFuc.H(2)O) isolated in a molecular beam, have been investigated by means of resonant two photon ionization (R2PI) spectroscopy and ultraviolet and infrared ion-dip spectroscopy. Conformational and structural assignments have been based on comparisons between their experimental and computed near IR spectra, calculated using density functional theory (DFT) and their relative energies, determined from ab initio (MP2) calculations. The near IR spectra of "free" and hydrated alpha- and beta-PhFuc, and many other mono- and di-saccharides, provide extremely sensitive probes of hydrogen-bonded interactions which can be finely tuned by small (or large) changes in the molecular conformation. They provide characteristic "signatures" which reflect anomeric, or axial vs. equatorial differences, both revealed through comparisons between alpha/beta-PhFuc and alpha/beta-PhXyl; or similarities, revealed through comparisons between fucose (6-deoxy galactose) and galactose; or binding motifs, for example, "insertion" vs. "addition" structures in hydrated complexes. At the monosaccharide level (the first step in the carbohydrate hierarchy), these trends appear to be general. In contrast to the monohydrates of galactose (beta-PhGal) and glucose (beta-PhGlc), the conformations of alpha- and beta-PhFuc are unaffected by the binding of a single water molecule though changes in the R2PI spectra of multiply hydrated alpha-PhFucW(n) however, may reflect a conformational transformation when n> or = 3.

[reaction: see text] Glycosyl disulfides have been shown for the first time to be effective glycosyl donors. Glucosylation and galactosylation of a panel of representative alcohol acceptors allowed the formation of 28 simple glycosides, disaccharides, and glycoamino acids in yields of up to 90%. As well as providing a novel class of effective glycosyl donors, the ability to easily alter the nature of the aglycon and the ability to differently activate donors that differ only in their aglycon simply through altering conditions lends glycosyl disulfide donors to their use in latent-active reactivity tuning strategies.

N-acetyl glucosamine binding protein amplifies the concentration of one member in a dynamic combinatorial glycopeptide library based on exchanging disulfides.

The conformation of phenyl-substituted monosaccharides (mannose, galactose, and glucose) and their singly hydrated complexes has been investigated in the gas phase by means of a combination of mass selected, conformer specific ultraviolet and infrared double resonance hole burning spectroscopy experiments, and ab initio quantum chemistry calculations. In each case, the water molecule inserts into the carbohydrate at a position where it can replace a weak intramolecular interaction by two stronger intermolecular hydrogen bonds. The insertion can produce significant changes in the conformational preferences of the carbohydrates, and there is a clear preference for structures where cooperative effects enhance the stability of the monosaccharide conformers to which the water molecule chooses to bind. The conclusions drawn from the study of monosaccharide-water complexes are extended to the disaccharide lactose and discussed in the light of the underlying mechanisms that may be involved in the binding of carbohydrate assemblies to proteins and the involvement, or not, of key structural water molecules.

The gas phase structures of phenyl alpha- and beta-d-xylopyranoside (alpha- and beta-pXyl) and their mono-hydrates have been investigated using a combination of resonant two-photon ionization (R2PI), ultra-violet hole-burning and resonant infrared ion dip spectroscopy, coupled with density functional theory (DFT) and ab initio computation. The hole-burning experiments indicate the population of a single conformer only, in each of the two anomers. Their experimental and calculated infrared spectra are both consistent with a conformational assignment corresponding to the computed global minimum configuration. All three OH groups are oriented towards the oxygen atom (O1) on the anomeric carbon atom to form an all trans(ttt) counter-clockwise chain of hydrogen bonds. The mono-hydrates, alpha- and beta-pXyl(H(2)O) each populate two distinct structures in the molecular beam environment, with the water molecule inserted between OH4 and OH3 or between OH3 and OH2 in alpha-pXyl(H2O), and between OH2 and O1 in either of two alternative orientations, in beta-pXyl(H2O). In all of the mono-hydrated xyloside complexes, the water molecule inserts into the weakest link of the sugar molecules' hydrogen-bonded chain of hydroxy groups, creating a single extended chain, strengthened by co-operativity. The all-trans configuration of the xylose moiety is retained and the mono-hydrate structures correspond to those calculated to lie at the lowest relative energies.

Controlled site-selective glycosylation can be achieved by combining site-directed cysteine mutagenesis with chemical modification of the introduced thiol; a new class of more efficient chemoselective reagents, glycosyl phenylthiosulfonates, allow rapid glycosylations of representative simple thiols, peptides and proteins.