Carbohydrates are known to be important structures found on the surfaces of not only human cells, but also bacterial, fungal, and other pathogenic and nonpathogenic organisms and viruses. These structures are key to modulating immune responses, although at present these interactions are not well understood. Herein we report efforts to harness various aldolases, especially those from hyperthermophiles such as <i>Sulfolobus acidocaldarius</i>, to produce a variety of 9-carbon sugars found in cell walls of pathogenic bacteria. The resulting nine-carbon nonulosonic acids will serve as building blocks for the production of glycan fragments to enable structure-function relationships of complex bacterial oligosaccharides found in bacteria and allow the rational design of therapeutics.

Synthesis of nonulosonic acids from aldolase enzymes naturally occurring in hyperthermophiles

Where thousands of chemistry professionals meet to share ideas and advance scientific and technical knowledge. Spring 2023 abstracts, posters, and presentations will launch at the end of March.

ACS Spring 2023

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.