Carbohydrates comprise one of the largest and most diverse collections of biologically active molecules, and it is increasingly clear that they participate in nearly every aspect of biology.  However, relative to their macromolecular peers (i.e., proteins and nucleic acids), carbohydrates remain relatively unexplored, and their structure-function relationships are still poorly understood.  Several of the fundamental challenges inherent in studying carbohydrates include: (1) their chemical complexity; (2) the lack of efficient and sensitive analytical methods for their detection and quantification; and (3) their complex chemical synthesis and biosynthesis.  We will describe the development of chemical approaches to overcome these fundamental challenges and how the principles and tools of chemistry can be used to uncover new functions for carbohydrates and their associated proteins in neurobiology and cancer.

Sweet chemical signaling: Understanding the structure-function relationships of carbohydrates in neurobiology and cancer

244th National Meeting (2012)

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