马克斯·普朗克胶体和界面研究所Martina Delbianco研究小组揭示了一种利用碳水化合物-芳香相互作用进行催化作用的聚糖折叠物。该项研究成果发表在2025年2月26日出版的《自然-化学》上。

课题组想知道是否可以设计其他生物分子（如聚糖）来执行催化功能，扩大合成功能低聚物的组合。

在这里，该研究组报道了一种多糖折叠体，它的灵感来自于天然的Sialyl Lewis X抗原，它在化学反应中充当催化剂。这种基于聚糖的催化剂具有结构刚性和模块化适应性，结合了一个底物识别基元和一个催化活性位点。利用碳水化合物与芳香底物进行CH-π相互作用的固有能力，研究人员通过Pictet-Spengler转化证明了色氨酸的募集和功能化。他们的模块化聚糖催化剂加速反应动力学，使含色氨酸肽在水环境中的修饰。他们的发现为基于聚糖的催化剂的发展铺平了道路，并提出了聚糖在生物环境中的催化能力的可能性。

据了解，在自然界中，催化反应的能力主要与蛋白质和核酶有关。受这些系统的启发，基于肽的催化剂被设计用于加速化学反应和/或确保区域和立体选择转化。

附：英文原文

Title: A glycan foldamer that uses carbohydrate–aromatic interactions to perform catalysis

Author: Liu, Kaimeng, Delbianco, Martina

Issue&Volume: 2025-02-26

Abstract: In nature, the ability to catalyse reactions is primarily associated with proteins and ribozymes. Inspired by these systems, peptide-based catalysts have been designed to accelerate chemical reactions and/or ensure regio- and stereoselective transformations. We wondered whether other biomolecules (such as glycans) could be designed to perform catalytic functions, expanding the portfolio of synthetic functional oligomers. Here we report a glycan foldamer inspired by the natural Sialyl Lewis X antigen that acts as catalyst in a chemical reaction. This glycan-based catalyst benefits from structural rigidity and modular adaptability, incorporating a substrate-recognition motif alongside a catalytic active site. Leveraging the inherent ability of carbohydrates to engage in CH–π interactions with aromatic substrates, we demonstrate the recruitment and functionalization of a tryptophan via a Pictet–Spengler transformation. Our modular glycan catalyst accelerates the reaction kinetics, enabling the modification of tryptophan-containing peptides in aqueous environments. Our findings pave the way for the development of glycan-based catalysts and suggest the possibility of catalytic capabilities of glycans in biological contexts.

DOI: 10.1038/s41557-025-01763-6

Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41557-025-01763-6