NMR Spectroscopy of Glycoconjugates

While for many years NMR spectroscopy was one of the most useful methods of analyzing smaller molecules, nowadays it is an indispensable tool in determining the structure of complex biomolecules too. One reason for this is not least the development of increasingly powerful appliances that enabled this complicated analysis using tiny amounts of the substances in the first place. Just as the image of a 2D spectrum allows an insight into the spatial structure of a molecule, the chronological examination of an NMR experiment enables the description of the molecular dynamics. It is only by explaining such characteristics that we can really come to understand the functioning of biomolecules. This book is neither a purely analytical nor bioorganic work, and as such fills a gap for everybody working in determining the structure of carbohydrates and their conjugates. In a clearly comprehensible manner, the text summarizes the latest knowledge surrounding the use of NMR spectroscopy with such biologically important substance classes as polysaccharides, glycoproteins and glycolipides. Furthermore, it provides an insight into the interactions with other biomolecules such as proteins, nucleic acids or carbohydrates. This is a valuable guide for all glucochemists.

Table of Contents:
BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF GLYCOSTRUCTURES The impact of NMR in understanding their structure and function NMR OF GLYCOCONJUGATES NMR of glycoproteins. The NMR view of the impact of the saccharide chain in the structure, dynamics and function NMR of glycolipids. The use of media other than water. Orientation in lipophilic media. The use and impact of residual dipolar couplings NMR OF OLIGO- AND POLYSACCHARIDES Conformational analysis of saccharides and NMR experimental evidence. The general approach. Advantages and problems of the application of NMR methods The use of NMR to understand the molecular motional features of saccharides. NMR relaxation parameters and dynamics. Global and internal motions NMR of sulfated oligo- and polysaccharides. The building blocks: monosaccharide conformation. The glycosidic linkages. The influence of the charges and counterions. From oligo- to polysaccharides. Anisotropy of motion Activated sugars. The general approach to understand their conformation by NMR Applications of homo- and heteronuclear coupling constants to conformational analysis of pyranoses and furanoses. Use and benefit of isotope labelling. The experimental approach. Karplus-like relationships and C-H and C-C couplings / Residual dipolar couplings in bacterial polysaccharides. Orientation in diluted liquid crystals. Use and benefit of isotope labelling. The experimental approach. Orientation, conformation and dynamics BIOMOLECULAR INTERACTIONS Carbohydrate-protein interactions investigated by NMR STD. The experimental approach. Epitope mapping of oligosaccharides with STD. Detection of bio-active compounds with STD Transfer NOE. The experimental approach. Applications of TR-NOE to detect protein carbohydrate interactions. Detecting binding. The conformation of the bound state. Use and benefit of isotope labelling for TR-NOE experiments Carbohydrate-carbohydrate interactions investigated by NMR. The experimental approach Carbohydrate-nucleic acid interactions investigated by NMR. The experimental approach. Aminoglycoside-RNA interactions EXPERIMENTS: TECHNIQUES AND APPLICATION Selective nD experiments. The heteronuclear and homonuclear building blocks Detection of hydroxyl protons. The problem of fast exchange and the ways of circumvention. The use of solvents other than water. Experimental techniques New NMR techniques. The state-of-the-art pulse sequences and their impact for glyco NMR. Improving sensitivity. The new technologies. The use of cryo probe technology and its impact for glyco NMR

About the Author :
Jesús Jiménez Barbero is a Spanish scientist who has contributed to the advance of glycoscience by unraveling the conformational properties of carbohydrates and analogues. Thomas Peters is the editor of NMR Spectroscopy of Glycoconjugates, published by Wiley.